Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) is a global Palestinian-led movement promoting boycotts, divestments and sanctions against the State of Israel. Its objective is to pressure Israel to meet what it describes as Israel's obligations under international law, defined as withdrawal from the occupied territories, removal of the separation barrier in the West Bank, full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and "respecting, protecting, and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties".

BDS is modeled after the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. Its proponents compare the Palestinians' plight to that of apartheid-era black South Africans.

History

Oh July 6, 2004, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) called for an international boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutes. The rational for this boycott is that Israeli academics and aiding the oppression of the Palestinian people by Israel. This initial movement received endorsements from the Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees, the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, the General Union of Palestinian Women, the Palestinian Journalists' Federation, the Palestinian NGO Network, West Bank, the Palestinian Writers' Federation, the Palestinian Lawyers' Association, the Palestinian League of Artists, and the the Teachers' Federation among many other groups. On July 9, 2005, the Palestinian Call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel was openly made. This movement was endorsed by over 170 Palestinian organizations. It represents the whole of all Palestinian people. The BDS National Committee (BNC) was founded in November of 2007 as part of the Palestinian BDS Conference, which was held in Ramallah. The BNC is currently made up of the following members: Agricultural Cooperatives Union, Civic Coalition for the Defense of Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem, Coalition for Jerusalem, Council of National and Islamic Forces in Palestine, Federation of Independent Trade Unions, General Union of Palestinian Peasants, General Union of Palestinian Teachers (GUPT), General Union of Palestinian Women, General Union of Palestinian Writers, Global Palestine Right of Return Coalition, Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (STW), National Committee for Grassroots Resistance, National Committee to Commemorate the Nakba, Occupied Palestine and Syrian Golan Heights Initiative (OPGAI), Palestinian Bar Association, Palestinian Campaign for the Academic & Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), Palestinian Economic Monitor, Palestinian Federation of New Unions, Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees (PFUUPE), Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), Palestinian Medical Association, Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO), Palestinian National Institute for NGOs, Palestinian Trade Union Coalition for BDS (PTUC-BDS), Palestinian Union of Postal, IT & Telecommunications Workers, Popular Struggle Coordination Committee (PSCC), Union of Palestinian Charitable Organizations, Union of Palestinian Farmers, Union of Professional Associations, Union of Public Employees in Palestine-Civil Sector, Union of Youth Activity, Centers-Palestine Refugee Camps, Women Campaign to Boycott Israeli Products.

Goals and Methods

The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement has the following goals: Israel withdrawing from Arab lands and the removal of the Wall, Arab-Palestinians receiving full equality and fundamental rights, and the right of the Palestinian people to return to their homes and Israel obeying UN Resolution 194. BDS currently called for the boycotts of the following companies: Ahava, AXA, HP, Israeli agricultural produce, Puma, Sabra, Siemens, and SodaStream.