BDS: Pro-Palestinian or Anti-Israel?

BDS this.. BDS that.. BDS.. BDS.. BDS..

It’s the “in” thing! The hot topic! And if you were to ask the advocates “What is BDS?” I’m sure that they would have no problem to explain! “Boycott, Divest and Sanction Israel for being an apartheid state” would be a likely answer. Easy to relate to, easy to convince. That’s because they disregard their true intention; but that’s also easy to track down. It’s written on the BDS website and I suggest becoming familiar with it. After all, why not have some insight along with your own conclusions on this hot topic?

According to the BDS website as of today:

“The call urges various forms of boycott against Israel until it meets its obligations under international law by:
1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands occupied in June 1967 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.”

These statements show BDS for who they really are. An Anti-Semitic campaign aimed unfairly at the Jewish state. Let me explain.

Anti-Semitism has always dressed up in disguise, in this case, using the terms apartheid and occupier to cover up the evidence. And, once again, the world is blind. BDS is not interested in a two-state solution. They are interested in one state, from the banks of the Jordan to the Mediterranean. Palestine.

“Wait, What? How did you get to this conclusion! You are crazy!!”

Actually, I’m not. BDS calls for Israel to not only withdrawal from the West-Bank (not to mention the Golan Heights. Can you imagine ISIS skiing down the Hermon to the Kinneret?!?!) , but to also promote the Palestinian right of return; a demand that (according to UNRWA) would make up to 5 million Arabs eligible for return. The conclusion, no more Jewish majority and ultimately no more Jewish state. As the saying goes, “wipe the Zionists off the map”. BDS wouldn’t even need a bomb.

BDS also calls for Israel to dismantle the wall barrier, a wall that has significantly reduced the number of suicide bombings from 170 to 0 since 2008. A crime that has stolen the lives of 804 innocent people. A wall that, if fully completed, would have likely prevented the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli children last summer, an act of terror that resulted in a campaign on the Gaza strip. The completion of this wall could have potentially saved innocent Palestinians from the terrorism of their counterparts.

Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, also known as Arab-Israelis, enjoy more rights than any other Arab living in the Middle East. Therefore Arab-Israeli diplomats in Israel’s parliament condemn any form of ethnic cleansing including the “Lieberman Plan”, a motive that, in a two-state solution, would ultimately swap Arab communities in Israel with Jewish settlements. BDS is also against any form of ethnic cleansing despite the fact that they are also “selling” Arab-Israelis to not have rights. If Arab-Israelis don’t have rights then why condemn all forms of ethnic cleansing when, in the case of the “Lieberman Plan”, it could result in Arab-Israelis living in a Palestinian state and enforcing their own laws and rights without even leaving their doorstep? This is completely hypocritical. In addition, unlike Iran, Israel does not execute women for being raped. Unlike Saudi Arabia, Israel does not execute homosexuals; we actually do the exact opposite as Tel Aviv yearly hosts its Gay Pride Parade, an event that attracts tourists from all over the world. Unlike Lebanon, where Palestinians are rejected the most basic forms of civil rights, Israel allows Palestinians to become lawyers, doctors, engineers and more! Yes, Israel isn’t perfect but there are a whole bunch of other countries I would boycott first.

I would also hate to ruin the party and mention that UN Resolution 194 was rejected by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Yemen among others. It is yet another example of a UN resolution which was originally denied by the Arab states.

Don’t fool yourself, not everyone who identifies with BDS is Anti-Semitic; yet. There are few who actually believe in what BDS stands for, the result of being misinformed. I mean who in their right mind would not boycott an apartheid state. But calling Israel “apartheid” would not only be unjust to Israel and the black inhabitants of South Africa (who suffered from real apartheid), it would also be a blatant lie. The consequences we could face as a nation are unknown (as there are currently no prophets) but, based on history, there is always a price; and more often than not, we have paid it.

Ultimately, BDS is using the excuse of our complex situation to mask their hate, and innocent people are unknowingly buying into it, buying into this Anti-Semitic education and thus becoming Anti-Semitic.

But while there is all this hate we still must not forget that we are strong, stronger than ever before. It does not matter what side of the political spectrum one identifies with. This is not a fight over the legitimacy of a Palestinian state but rather a fight over the legitimacy of a Jewish state. We must continue to push ourselves to be the best we can. If it’s through engineering and high-tech or agriculture and science, be it at college or be it at work, we must continue to stand up for what is just and build bridges through personal relationships. You are not alone. We have never been so strong. We will find the answer.