In July 2005, a coalition of 171 Palestinian Civil Society
organizations created the global BDS movement - for "Boycott,
Divestment and Sanctions against Israel Until it Complies with
International Law and Universal Principles of Human Rights" for
Occupied Palestinians, Israeli Arabs, and Palestinian diaspora
refugees.
Since 1948, dozens of UN resolutions condemned Israel's colonial
occupation, decades of discriminatory policies, illegal land
seizures, settlements, international law violations, and harsh
oppression. They called for remedial action.
Nothing so far worked. Palestine remains occupied. Its people keep
suffering. Their human rights are denied. Gaza's suffocating under
siege. Abuses this extreme can't be tolerated.
In solidarity, people of conscience demand justice and "call upon
international civil society organizations and (supporters
everywhere) to impose broad boycotts and implement divestment
initiatives against Israel similar to those applied to (apartheid)
South Africa."
Pressure's needed for "embargoes and sanctions....for the sake of
justice and genuine peace."
Corporate Watch recently published a volume titled, "Targeting
Israeli Apartheid: A Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Handbook."
Calling it a "guide many of us in the movement have been waiting
for," it "demystif(ies) and expose(s) the daily reproduction of the
occupation of Palestine."
Clear forensic evidence shows how colonization continues. The guide
lists "names, addresses, profit margins, and zones of activity of
the corporate web that sustains this injustice."
Through understanding comes better ways to intervene. Activists are
given detailed information in nearly 400 pages. The material exposes
the anti-Semitism canard. Occupation, repression and exploitation
have no religion or ethnicity.
Decades of colonization continue because it's profitable. The guide
frames it as "an international economic and cultural dynamic that we
can identify in our own countries, on our streets and in our own
homes."
Nonetheless, resistance offers hope and change. "(I)nformation is
action." Grassroots solidarity can end Israeli apartheid,
militarism, occupation and repression. BDS activism unites global
civil societies to do it collectively. It explains:
"The key lesson learned from South Africa is that, in order for
world governments to end their complicity with Israel's grave and
persistent violation of human rights and international law, they
must be compelled to do so through mass, well organized grassroots
pressure by social movements and other components of civil society."
"In this context, BDS has proven to be the most potent and promising
strategy of international solidarity with the Palestinian people in
our struggle for self determination, freedom, justice, and
equality."
It holistically targets decades of repressive occupation and Israeli
Arab marginalization. Targeting state criminals and profiteering
corporate interests are key to ending this decades long nightmare.
International companies like Deutsche Bahn pulled out. Companies
with stakes in the Dutch Dexia banking group sold shares. The
Israeli conglomerate Africa Israel said it won't work in
settlements. Moreover, since Cast Lead, Israeli companies saw
exports drop, especially to Europe.
The guide focuses on profiteering. Exposing it shines light where
it's needed. Targeting corporate bottom lines matter most, beginning
with tarnishing their image.
Three parts comprise the volume:
(1) Israel's economic sectors, their relative importance, and
corporate profiteers in them.
Detailed information is provided on Israel's export trade, how BDS
activism affects it, holding companies, banking and financial
services, agriculture, extractive industries, energy,
telecommunications, tourism, freight and public transport, academia,
manufacturing, occupied industrial zones, military industry,
high-tech business, diamonds, drugs, construction and real estate,
and franchises.
(2) Geographical case studies examine exploited areas, including
Syria's Golan, the Jordan Valley, East Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and
the Naqab (a semi-desert region in southern Israel.
(3) A special focus highlights Britain, its arms and munitions
industry, retailers, investors, Israeli companies with UK
shareholders, banks, pension funds, universities, and complicit
charities.
Detailed maps are provided of the Gaza Marine Zone, Separation Wall,
Golan, Jordan Valley, the 1967 Allon Plan (cynically proposing
maximum land with minimum Arabs, as well as annexing Palestine's
choicest areas), East Jerusalem, and the Naqab.
Corporate Watch calls itself a "research group exposing the
environmentally destructive and socially divisive projects of
corporations and dragging the corrupt links between business and
power, economics and politics into the spotlight."
Sunshine is the best disinfectant.
Its research "intends to strengthen and provide a resource for the
growing BDS movement and the wider (supportive) international"
effort.
It also examines the oil industry, globalization, genetic
engineering, agribusiness, toxic chemicals, migration,
privatizations, and other areas to catalogue corporate crimes.
It works cooperatively with peace campaigners, environmentalists,
trade unionists, NGOs, journalists, British MPs, and other members
of the public.
It targeting Israeli apartheid document focuses on:
(1) Israeli companies profiteering from Palestine's economy and
people. For example, agribusiness established farms on stolen land.
As a result, they crippled Palestinian agriculture with militarized
help.
(2) International corporations exploiting Palestinian suffering.
Arms companies provide Israel weapons and munitions. Construction
companies build illegal settlements, Israel's Separation Wall, and
Jews-only commercial development. Others take advantage the same
way.
(3) Foreign states setting up illegal industrial areas on stolen
Palestinian land. For example, Japan plans a Jordan Valley one
working cooperatively with Israeli and international companies.
Britain, Germany, France and other governments expressed interest in
establishing their own.
A Final Comment
Colonialism, apartheid, and militarized occupation constitute
serious international law breaches. It's long past time they ended.
World leaders show no resolve. Grassroots activists must do it on
their own until Israel:
A Final Comment
Colonialism, apartheid, and militarized occupation constitute
serious international law breaches. It's long past time they ended.
World leaders show no resolve. Grassroots activists must do it on
their own until Israel:
recognizes Palestinian self-determination within 1967 borders with
East Jerusalem as its capital;
respects international law;
ends its illegal occupation, including Gaza;
dismantles its Separation Wall;
grants Israeli Arabs equal rights as Jews; and
complies with UN resolution 194, affirming the right of Palestinian
refugees to return home or be fully compensated for losses.
Sustained grassroots activism for the long haul, including a vibrant
BDS movement, has the best chance to achieve it. It won't happen
another way.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to
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