Has Israel defeated the BDS movement?

Has Israel defeated the BDS movement?, morningstaronline.co.uk

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Excerpt:

Contrary to Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim, the evidence suggests the BDS movement is
growing and picking up the pace, writes HUGH LANNING


ACCORDING to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “Israel has defeated the BDS
(boycott, divestment and sanctions) movement.” Netanyahu made his remarks during a meeting
of the State Control Committee, the background for which “were two state comptroller reports
published on May 24 exposing a list of Israeli failures against the BDS movement and in the state
hasbara (public diplomacy) system.”

State Comptroller Yosef Shapira claimed that the Foreign Ministry was unable “to present any
significant achievements in the battle against” BDS, with “projects intended to improve Israel’s
image in target communities around the world […] failing to achieve their designated goals.”

With all the evidence pointing to the contrary — with more and more support for action to get Israel to comply with international law — perhaps it is best to judge by deeds rather than words. Secure in the “victory” over the BDS campaign in May, in September the Israeli minister charged with combating the campaign is in London. Public Security and Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan described Britain as the world centre of the BDS campaign. “I’m going there to battle the boycott […]in every arena.” ...

The time is for action to make Israel comply with international law. The settlements are in
breach of the Geneva Conventions because they are colonising — moving Israeli citizens to live
permanently in occupied territory. The answer is quite simple: we shouldn’t trade, supply money
and arms, play football or meet with people, organisations or teams complicit with the
settlement colonies.

Thanks to Israel’s actions, BDS is alive, well and kicking back.

Hugh Lanning is chair of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.