Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
Name	Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
Formation	9 July 2005
Founders	Palestinian Civil Society
Type	Social movement
Focus	Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Region	Worldwide

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. It is a global, non-violent movement initiated by Palestinian civil society in 2005, inspired by the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. The campaign calls for international pressure on Israel to comply with international law and Palestinian rights through economic and cultural boycotts. Its foundational document, the 2005 Palestinian Civil Society Call for BDS, was endorsed by over 170 Palestinian organizations.

Origins and history

The movement was formally launched on 9 July 2005, one year after the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the Israeli West Bank barrier. This date marked the first anniversary of that ruling and was chosen by a coalition including the Palestinian NGO Network and major trade union federations. The call was significantly influenced by the success of the academic and cultural boycott against the apartheid regime in South Africa, as articulated by figures like Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Key early support came from Omar Barghouti, a co-founder of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, and the movement gained momentum following Israeli military operations in Gaza, such as Operation Cast Lead in 2008-2009.

Goals and principles

The movement outlines three core demands based on principles of international law. First, it calls for an end to Israel's occupation and colonization of all Arab lands occupied since June 1967, including dismantling the Israeli West Bank barrier. Second, it demands full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel. Third, it advocates for the respect, protection, and promotion of the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN General Assembly Resolution 194. The movement frames these goals through the lens of ending what it describes as a system of apartheid, drawing parallels to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Major campaigns and tactics

Campaigns strategically target corporations, cultural institutions, and academic partnerships seen as complicit in Israeli policies. High-profile corporate targets have included Caterpillar Inc., for supplying bulldozers used in home demolitions, and SodaStream, which operated a factory in the West Bank. In the cultural sphere, campaigns have urged artists like Roger Waters of Pink Floyd and Lorde to cancel performances in Israel. Academic boycotts have involved votes by scholarly associations, such as the American Studies Association in 2013, to sever institutional ties. Divestment efforts have been prominent on university campuses, including University of California and University of Oxford, and within religious denominations like the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Impact and effectiveness

The movement has secured symbolic and material victories, influencing the decisions of major financial institutions and corporations. Danske Bank, Nordea, and PGGM have divested from certain Israeli banks or companies linked to occupation activities. The consumer goods giant Unilever divested from its Ben & Jerry's ice cream operations in the West Bank in 2022. Politically, BDS advocacy has contributed to shifting discourse within left-wing political parties in Europe, such as the Labour Party (UK) under Jeremy Corbyn and Podemos in Spain. Its impact is also measured in the significant legislative and diplomatic counter-efforts it has provoked from Israel and its allies.

Criticism and controversy

Critics, including the Israeli government and major Jewish organizations like the Anti-Defamation League, accuse the movement of antisemitism, arguing its goals seek the elimination of Israel as a Jewish state. Prominent figures such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have condemned the movement as counterproductive. Internal criticism has also emerged from some leftist and Palestinian voices, such as journalist Mouin Rabbani, who argue its tactics can be overly simplistic or alienating. Debates rage over whether the movement's call for a right of return is compatible with a two-state solution.

Legal and academic responses

Numerous legislative bodies have passed laws aimed at countering the movement. In the United States, over 30 states have enacted anti-BDS laws, many based on model legislation from the American Legislative Exchange Council. The US Congress passed the Combating BDS Act in 2019. In Europe, rulings have been mixed; France's Court of Cassation acquitted activists for advocating boycott, while Germany's Bundestag passed a resolution condemning the movement as antisemitic. Within academia, institutions like the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign faced controversy over the rescinding of a job offer to scholar Steven Salaita due to his tweets about Israel.

Category:Political movements Category:Israeli–Palestinian conflict Category:Boycotts Category:2005 establishments