Transcript From South Africa to Israel/Palestine: Using Boycott to

The Case for Boycott,
Divestment, and
Sanctions(BDS)
NCSU, September 13, 2010
Sponsored by the Coalition for Peace with Justice
Rania Masri
BoycottZionism.Wordpress.com
Greenresistance.wordpress.com
According to the Media…
….the sides meet again to discuss peace ….and work towards a
Palestinian State in….two years
17 Years Today…
Since [that] fatal shooting of four settlers from
the settlement of Beit Haggai just outside of
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(September 11, 2010)
Palestinian Civil Society Calls for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
against Israel Until it Complies with International Law and Universal
Principles of Human Rights. 9 July 2005
We, representatives of Palestinian civil society, call upon
international civil society organizations and people of conscience
all over the world to impose broad boycotts and implement
divestment initiatives against Israel similar to those applied to
South Africa in the apartheid era. We appeal to you to pressure
your respective states to impose embargoes and sanctions
against Israel. We also invite conscientious Israelis to support this
Call, for the sake of justice and genuine peace.
www.bdsmovement.net
Palestinian Civil Society Calls for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
against Israel Until it Complies with International Law and Universal
Principles of Human Rights. 9 July 2005
These non-violent punitive measures should be maintained until Israel meets its
obligation to recognize the Palestinian people's inalienable right to selfdetermination and fully complies with the precepts of international law by:
1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall;
2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full
equality; and
3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to
their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.
www.bdsmovement.net
8
 Israel is an Apartheid State -- throughout the
land of Palestine –
 The prolonged occupation and colonization of Gaza and the
West Bank, including east Jerusalem, and other Arab
territories;
 The system of racial discrimination against Palestinian
citizens of Israel; and
 The persistent denial of the UN-sanctioned rights of the
Palestinian refugees, paramount among which is their right
to reparations and to return to their homes of origin, in
accordance with UNGA Res. 194.
9
What is Apartheid?
“…similar policies and practices of racial segregation and
discrimination as practiced in southern Africa” which
have “the purpose of establishing and maintaining
domination by one racial group of persons over any
other racial group of persons and systematically
oppressing them, in particular by means such as
segregation, expropriation of land, and denial of the
right to leave and return to their country, the right to a
nationality and the right to freedom of movement and
residence” (Article II, International Convention on the Suppression and
Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid, UN General Assembly Resolution 3068, 30
Nov 1973).
10
Similarities in struggle against apartheid:
South Africa and Palestine
11
Global Anti-Apartheid Movement
 “… what prevented South Africa’s white supremacist government
from escalating their own violence to Israeli levels of cruelty and
audacity was not that they had greater scruples than the Zionist
regime. It was recognition that they alone could not stand against a
global anti-apartheid movement that was in solidarity with the
internal resistance.

“Israel’s ‘military deterrent’ has now been repeatedly discredited as a
means to force Palestinians and other Arabs to accept Zionist
supremacy as inevitable and permanent. Now, the other pillar of
Israeli power — Western support and complicity — is starting to
crack. We must do all we can to push it over.” – Ali Abunimah, 2009
12
Boycott/Divestment/Sanctions (BDS)
 Boycott: Form of pressure through non-cooperation.
Consumer actions include product (economic
boycott), academic, cultural, and sports boycott.
 Divestment: The selling of stocks or bonds from a
company profiting from unjust practices. This is done
by institutional investors like churches and
universities.
 Sanctions: Economic and diplomatic restrictions
imposed by governments against other governments.
13
Why support BDS?
 The goal is Justice. Equality. Universal human rights.
 Can Palestinians and Israelis negotiate now?
 BDS: If you want to continue violating human rights,
it can’t be business as usual.
 BDS: If you respect universal human rights, no
problem.
Critical Elements for Change, from the
South African example
1.
Sustainability (long-haul)
2.
Careful research
3.
Linking of struggles
4.
Support of Palestinian grassroots organizations
… and
14
15
Which Companies to Boycott?
 Companies that invest in Israel/OPT
 Companies that invest in Israeli firms
 Companies that make gifts to Zionist Charities
 Companies that support Zionism
 Companies that open research enters in Israel
16
… The Key
BDS applies pressure on a target government to change
its unjust policies by consistently and systematically
isolating it internationally.
So what does that mean for our actions…?
Academic, Cultural, Athletic and
Economic boycott
But a boycott violates academic freedom.
I say: Whose freedom? Freedom is
merely privilege extended unless
enjoyed by one and all.
-Nada Elia
18
Pete Others
Seeger: who cancelled their performances in Israel:
Carlos Santana canceled his
 Isolation.
Please
Don't Play to
planned concert in Jaffa this
Greenwash
Ethnicseveral
Cleansing
June,
after receiving
Pixies, Gorillaz Sound System, Gil Scott-Heron,
letters from Pro-Palestinian
Bono/U2,
Leftfield and Neil Barnes,
groups, and Human
Rights
and Devandra Banhart
Groups.

.
He received messages that
'it's better' not to perform in
Israel.
19
In response to Israel's Freedom Flotilla massacre, the prominent
Scottish writer, Iain Banks, wrote in the Guardian that the best
way for international artists, writers and academics
to “convince Israel of its moral degradation and ethical
isolation” is “simply by having nothing more to do with this
outlaw state.”
So: should we leave it to personal choice?
Strength is in community position
20
2009
Supporters of BDS

Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario’s University
Workers Coordinating Committee

Fédération autonome du collégial (FAC), Quebec College
Federation

Scottish Trade Union Congress

An Australian dock workers union

British fire fighter union (Fire Brigades Union) – calls for
complete boycott of Israel (August 2009)

Academics from England, Scotland, France, United States
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2009
Victories thus far

In the U.S., Hampshire College (MA) set a historic precedent by announcing its
divestment from 6companies profiting from the Israeli occupation. Significantly,
Hampshire was also the first college in the US to divest from apartheid South
Africa in the 1970s.

In Wales, Cardiff University acceded to demands by students and decided to
divest from companies supporting the occupation.

In Britain, Britain's trade unions passed a resolution to boycott Israeli goods;

In South Africa, dock workers refused to off-load a ship full of products from
Israel – after a decision by the South African Trade Unions Congress to engage in
boycott and sanctions against apartheid in Israel.

In Canada, the Canadian Union of Public Employees voted to boycott Israel.

In Norway, the Norwegian Pension Fund divestment from Israel's security
company Elbit;
22
2009
Victories thus far…

Motorola Israel Ltd sold its Government Electronics Department –
which made several products to enable Israel’s military occupation.
The protests had called on Motorola and its fully owned subsidiary,
Motorola Israel Ltd., to end their sales of bomb fuses, communication
devices, and surveillance equipment to the Israeli military.

a global campaign against Lev Leviev's Africa-Israel diamond company
leading to American, Norwegian, and English divestment;

The French company Veolia withdrew from operating the rail project
to connect the city center of Jerusalem with settlements in the West
Bank (June 2009)
23
And more victories in 2009…
 “There is a shift in the effectiveness of the BDS
movement against Israel and that if the
momentum is maintained and strengthened,
Israeli businessmen may decide to move their
headquarters away from Israel or to begin to put
pressure on the Israeli government to begin
respecting international law and ending the
occupation.” (March 2009)
24
SINCE: And still more victories …

Sweden requests cancellation of national youth soccer team's match in Israel .
"As humans, we are revolted by violence and shocked by what we saw," said Lars-Ake
Lagrell, the head of the Swedish Soccer Association. (there were 11 Swedish nationals
who participated in the flotilla that was stopped by Israel.) Source: Ha’aretz, June 1, 2010

Britain's largest union, Unite, has unanimously passed a motion to boycott
Israeli companies at its first policy conference in Manchester. The motion called
the union "to vigorously promote a policy of divestment from Israeli
companies", while a boycott of Israeli goods and services will be "similar to the
boycott of South African goods during the era of apartheid". (Source:
Jerusalem Post. June 4, 2010)

Sweden ports to block Israel ships, goods in response to Gaza flotilla takeover
Week-long ban (June 15-24) is initiated by Swedish Port Workers Union, who
says act is reaction to the 'unprecedented criminal attack on the peaceful ship
convoy.’ (Source: Ha’aretz. June 5, 2010)
25
And…
 6,000 Irish shoppers demand supermarket stops
stocking Israeli goods: the Ireland Palestine
Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) delivered a petition to
Dunnes Stores signed by 6,000 shoppers across
Ireland demanding that Dunnes Stores stop stocking
Israeli products, until Israel respects Palestinian
rights and international law. (July 29, 2010)
 Norwegian government pension fund excludes
more Israeli companies (August 23, 2010)
26
And more communities speak out…
 Olympia Food Co-op removes Israeli goods from
shelves; first US store to institute boycott The
Olympia Food Co-op Board of Directors has decided to
boycott Israeli goods at their two locations in Olympia,
Washington, becoming the first US grocery store to publicly
join the international grassroots movement for boycott,
divestment, and sanctions (BDS) on Israel for its human
rights abuses. (July 19, 2010)
 The California Israel Divestment Campaign announced
the launch of California ballot initiative 10-0020 to
require public employee systems to divest from certain
business activities in Israel (September 5, 2010)
27
And from within Israel
“We, as Israeli citizens, raise our voices to call on EU leaders: use
sanctions against Israel's brutal policies and join the active
protests of Bolivia and Venezuela. We appeal to the citizens
of Europe: please attend to the Palestinian Human Rights
Organisation's call, supported by more than 540 Israeli
citizens (www.freegaza.org/en/home/):

boycott Israeli goods and Israeli institutions;
 follow resolutions such as those made by the cities of
Athens, Birmingham and Cambridge (US).
This is the only road left. Help us all, please!”
– [January 17 2009]
28
by theJews,
recentcitizens
announcement
ofjoin
the inauguration of a cultural center in Ariel, the
“We,Provoked
Palestinians,
of Israel,
fourth largest
colonycampaign
in the occupied Palestinian territory, 150 prominent Israeli
the Palestinian
callJewish
for a BDS
academics,
writers and
cultural
figures
against
Israel, inspired
by the
struggle
of have declared that they "will not take part in any
kind
of cultural
activity
beyond We
the also
Green
Line, take part in discussions and seminars, or
South
Africans
against
apartheid.
call
lecturetoindo
anythe
kind
of academic setting in these settlements” ("150 academics, artists back
on others
same.
actors' boycott of settlement arts center," Haaretz, 31 August 2010).
As people devoted to the promotion of just
However…
peace
and true democracy in this region, we
are especially opposed to the international
community's
to boycott
the
While wedecision
welcome
acts of protest
against any manifestation of Israel's regime of
Palestinians
in the
Occupied
Palestinian
colonialism
and
apartheid,
we believe that these acts must be both morally
Territories.
This is
particularly
outrageous
consistent
and
anchored
in international law and universal human rights.
given the international community's prolonged
(Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, September
support of Israel's apartheid and other daily
7, 2010)
violations of international law.”
http://www.boycottisrael.info/
29
Let’s Assess.
 The key is De-Legitimization …
 To De-Legitimize Zionism, Israel
 To ensure that relations with Israel, in
any form, are not viewed as normal.
There is no ‘normality’ in occupation and
apartheid.
30
Legitimacy of the illegitimate: threatened

“Israel's international standing
is in dire straits, as the
legitimacy of its policies,
positions, military operations,
and even its very existence as a
Jewish-Democratic state, are
constantly contested and, as
some claim, its legitimacy
abroad is being eroded.”
- Winning the Battle of the Narrative.
Working Paper for the 2010
Herzliya Conference. Feb. 2010.

"There are millions of Indians
who love us, a billion Chinese
who love us, and millions of
evangelicals, who love us. We
have a problem with Sweden,
but we're working on it.”
- Shimon Peres, Feb. 20, 2010. (J.
Post)
31
What to do?
 Connect with BDS supporters worldwide
 Encourage BDS by unions, academics, athletes, etc.
 Research.
 Socially. Academically. Athletically.
 Economically
Be inspired by activists from around the world!
32
Hope is real. Victory is tangible.
 “Demolishing a system of apartheid takes time.
But not an eternity.”
 Henning Mankell - prize-winning writer and creator
of Wallander, among those on board the Gaza
flotilla.
 The Guardian, Saturday 5 June 2010
33
 Palestinian Campaign for the
Academic and Cultural Boycott
of Israel http://www.pacbi.org/
References
 Palestinian Global BDS
Movement
http://bdsmovement.net/
 US Campaign for the Academic
and Cultural Boycott of Israel
https://usacbi.wordpress.com/
 Olympia BDS:
http://www.olympiabds.org/