The Palestinian BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) National Committee has sent a petition to the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva claiming that, having “failed to stop the rise in worldwide support” for the movement, Israel has launched “a desperate and dangerous fight” against them.
The Palestinian BDS National Committee has sent a petition to the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva urging it to “take the necessary measures to uphold and protect the rights of Palestinian, Israeli and international human rights defenders who campaign nonviolently for Palestinian rights, including through the BDS movement.”
The petition claims that, having “failed to stop the rise in worldwide support” for the anti-Israel BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement, Israel has launched “a desperate and dangerous fight” against them.
The petition asserts that at Israel’s request, governments in the US, UK, France, Canada and elsewhere are introducing anti-BDS legislation and taking other “repressive measures” to undermine the BDS movement.
“Israel is using its security services to illegally spy on BDS activists across the world,” the petition charges.
“Israel’s huge campaign of repression against human rights defenders and the BDS movement is designed to shield it from being held accountable for its violations of international law,” BDS says.
The BDS movement promotes financial, academic and cultural boycotts against Israel, ostensibly as a nonviolent struggle against the so-called “Israeli occupation.”
Hundreds of Palestinians have lost their livelihood as a result of BDS campaigns.
Critics say its activities are a modern form of anti-Semitism, and its true objective is to destroy the State of Israel.
Israel and other Jewish organizations have recently launched several programs to combat BDS‘ actions.
In February, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, whose Strategic Affairs portfolio includes the fight against BDS, said he hoped that the new plans would signify a turning point in the fight against Israel delegitimization. “BDS is spreading to more and more countries and fields. It is successfully building relationships with mainstream groups. They are making use of modern technology to spread their propaganda. The threats are known,” he said.
It appears that these actions are taking effect, pressing BDS to turn to anti-Israel entities for support.
The UNHRC is infamously biased against Israel, with nearly half of its resolutions focused solely on Israel, while completely ignoring war, strife and atrocities committed around the globe.
Israeli leaders and officials have cited the UNHRC for its “obsessive hostility” toward Israel and its “one-sided mandate.” And in this case, it is expected to side with the BDS movement.
By: Max Gelber, United with Israel