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Israel’s War On BDS |
| By
Stephen Lendman |
| Earlier in July, BDS marked 12 years since its founding. It represents
growing opposition to Israeli apartheid viciousness. “Despite the fragmentation, military occupation, segregation and dispossession, we came together to assert our people’s right to freedom, justice, equality and dignity,” it explained. Its aims are supporting Palestinian self-determination, ending militarized occupation harshness, assuring the right of return for its diaspora population, and dismantling Israel’s apartheid wall, among other objectives. Its tactics involve “calls for boycott and divestment initiatives in the academic, cultural, economic and sports fields and for pressuring states to implement meaningful sanctions against Israel until it fully complies with its obligations under international law.” Its effective activism is why Israel aims to combat it legislatively, among other ways. A new measure called the Freedom of Information Law passed its Knesset first reading. It states “(e)very Israel citizen or resident has the right to obtain information from a public authority in accordance with the provisions of this Law.” Israel’s Strategic Affairs Ministry is in charge of efforts to combat delegitimization of Israel. According to its extremist minister Gilad Erdan: “(B)oycott organizations are spread out geographically and act in different areas. The organizations built a network of activity and act in coordination with the Palestinian Authority. There is a campaign of falsehoods fueling hate.” ”Since this is a battlefront like any other, the ministry put together a strategy for running the campaign against this phenomenon.” ”One of the principles for success is keeping our methods of action secret…Since most of the ministry’s actions are not of the ministry, but through bodies around the world who do not want to expose their connection with the state, we must protect the information whose exposure could harm the battle.” His strategy involves operating secretly, exempting his actions from assuring “the right (of Israelis) to obtain information from a public authority.” MK Nachaman Shai called the Freedom of Information Law “censorship in a costume.” Israel is concerned about the effectiveness of BDS activism - why it’s resorting to underhanded tactics to combat it. VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. |