Akashma Online News

Posted on April 29, 2012

Whose Cause: Gilad Atzmon, Norman Finkelstein, Ali Abunimah, Omar Barghouti or Palestine?

The BDS Controversy: What Does It Mean to Be a Pro-Palestinian Activist?

Being a pro-Palestinian activist does not necessarily mean you wish for the State of Israel to be wiped off the map, nor does it imply agreement with either the two-state or one-state solution. For some pro-Palestinians, their stance has been rooted from the beginning in the principles of human rights and international law.

The international community of peace activists has been actively boycotting Israeli products, goods, and services, including through academic boycotts. However, some segments of the solidarity movement participate only if the products are exported from settlements within the occupied territories, specifically those in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

There is no consensus on the BDS movement and there is not a Universal Strategic of how to support Palestine following the BDS Movement, because the BDS movement has many branches, many goals, millions of supporters, and everyone has it own idea of what they try to achieve, but something is really clear in the minds of many, when they think Boycotts and Disinvestment Sanctions one thought cross in their minds “South Africa Apartheid System”, and many will follow the campaign thinking on how to stop the State of Israel from halting their Apartheid practices.

Israeli citizens living in Israel who support the BDS Movement do so primarily to encourage the country to comply with international law and respect the rights of Palestinians in the occupied territories. However, they often avoid discussions about the two-state solution, focusing instead on achieving peace within Israel. They believe that respecting Palestinian rights is essential to stopping the violence. Conversely, other activists argue that purchasing Israeli products equates to supporting actions that harm Palestinians. They aim to boycott all products made in Israel, as well as companies known to have ties with Israel, believing that this will weaken the financial foundation supporting the state. They feel a moral obligation to support the BDS campaign and derive satisfaction from their efforts.

What ever is the goal of the participants on the BDS movement, I personally think that it is a Moral duty to every citizen of the world to support the BDS movement, which by this time it is not an exclusive movement of Omar Barghouti even thought he is one of the founders, but by no means he owns the movement, the BDS movement has taken global proportions and we all are participants and important integral part of this movement, and regardless of the opinion that some people have of Omar Barghouti , that won’t take away the value of the BDS Campaign.

The BDS have reached the world, is not only the idea that this movement can cripple Israel economy, but also is tarnishing the image that Israel gives to the world, every time some company comes public in its support for the BDS Movement and severes its economical ties with Israel, there is an article written about it, there is also a contra propaganda and more is known about Israel Apartheid System.

We can not discount the achievements of this movement only because some people say so. What took more than 20 years in South Africa for its BDS movement to be known around the world and to start to have the moral effect in the conscience of the people, have taken only 5 or 6 years in the Palestinians BDS campaign to be known and to feel the effects.

By this time the BDS have taken life of its own, the ideology of the founders or their political aspirations have nothing to do with BDS anymore.
There is no office at this point that can control or organize what people around the world do to support Palestine, so the rhetorical question of the Two State Solution that some want to use against the founders of the movement or against the movement can not undermine the global support for Palestine that this movement is awakening in the people of conscience.

“Boycott – basically its a tool of the weak, who individually are weak but collectively can have some strength against overweening power. The first use of the word was a combination of tenant farmers in Ireland against their land agent, famous cases are the Montgomery Bus boycott and little more recently the sporting boycott and other boycotts against South Africa.

There are difference between all these boycotts, and I would stress that by taking the archetypal case of that of the tenant farmers who resisted the land agent Charles Boycott, who gave his name to the whole process, in the 1880s in Ireland. Boycott was the land agent for an absentee English noble. And what they did, when he became too domineering, is they denied him labour to save the harvest, they put him into isolation – refused to talk to him under any circumstances, they shops wouldn’t serve him, the workers wouldn’t go and look after his house for him, and the person wouldn’t deliver him letters. And in reasonably short order, by the end of the year Boycott had been forced out and returned to England. So very direct.” Professor Jonathan Rosenhead, Novemeber 11, 2011

When important people, and I mean important by intellectuals, writers , Emeritus Professors, Nobel Prize laureates, famous politicians, International Acclaimed Activists speak on a issue, we all think and feel that our support for such issue it is validated and at the same time, if those same people speak against that issue that we support, we feel betrayed, we get mad at those people, we look for answers, we start doubting our own standing, in that moment we become followers and not thinkers. If we have already adopted a position on certain issues become we felt it it was right.

In the case of the BDS movement, it can not be accepted as a universal doctrine that fits all necessities, it is not a movement that seeks the liberation of Palestine, because it is not at its CORE, this movement started only to satisfy 3 main points:

1. Rights of refugees

2. Equally for Arabs in Israel

3. End of the occupation

The three points if, satisfy will satisfy International Law as well, ….now!

The Movement itself have evolved, the ideas have evolved as well, and by natural effect, the goals have changed, at least for some.

For Pro-Palestinians that seek the liberation of Palestine, it is not enough to satisfy the 3 points, because if they do it inside the context from where it was drafted it will legalized Israel, and a lots of people; Palestinians and no Palestinians that see the partition of Palestine as Illegal and infair will never accept Israel.

No one it is debating the two state solution or the one state solution inside the original founders movement, even if they do not accept Israel they see it as a beginning for a more broad movement, and to a better outcome, perhaps they know that eventually Israel will dissipate, because they see the Palestinians population growth as the best tool to defeat Israel.

On his Interview with Frank Baratta a well known Human Rights Activist, on February 9, 2012 in the Imperial college London, he said astonishing statements that left us all surprised and wondering what got into him.

Norm Finkelstein is now famous for repeating The is Clear, and he shield his views on BDS charging that Israel it is a State and that it is the law, but sadly he forget how Israel had disregard the law thousands of times when it comes to respect the life and property of Native Palestinians.

“When the law is criminal, you must break it to be human.” – FendLOTRO youtube user

The controversy arises stronger when Professor Finkelstein bashed the BDS movement as a Cult, I heard his argument and he does not meant the

literal definition of a Cult but what he argues is the centralized idea that forcing Israel to comply with the 3 points of the BDS movement will literally destroy Israel, he goes on to say that he will support the BDS movement if the organizers will honestly speak on their goals, because he senses that they are not being genuine on their goals. Ali Abu Nimah has been a harsh critic of Prof Frankenstein and have started a huge campaign of dis information and lots of people have fallen into the rhetoric without even listening to the words of Finkelstein.

“I support the BDS, but I said that it will never reach a broad public, until and unless they’re explicit on their goal, and their goal has to include recognition of Israel, or it is not starter. It won’t reach the public, because the moment it goes out there, Israel will start to say, what about us? and they won’t recognize our right, and it fact that is correct, you can’t answer the Israelies on that, because they are making a statement that it is factually correct.
Is not an accident and unwitting omition that BDS does not mention Israel….you know that and I know that…is not that OH! we forgot to mention Israel!” Professor Norman Finkelstein
I highly respect the point of view of these personalities and their approach to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict because each of them have worked tirelessly for the Palestinian Cause, but all of them have their own goals, and because their goals differ in nature, their arguments also differ.

We all can be Peace Activists and be Pro Palestinians and not have an opinion on the Two State Solution, or one State Solution that has the center point for Ali Abu Minah when he criticizes Prof Norm Finkelstein, he fails to acknowledge that Professor Finkelstein position it is only on the legality or illegality of Israel Actions on the occupied territories, or the idea that the BDS Movement aim it is to destroy Israel.

It will be unfair to give credit or take credit away from the words of any of them over the others without first analyzing their background, their Profession, their nationality and what they are looking for when they state a position in public forums. Every Argument is defended with a goal in mind.
What Professor Finkelsteing is looking for defending or un defending Palestine and/or Israel?- Obviously he is selling his image as a writer/scientist political activist to sell his books, off course his integrity is at stake and he is taking an enormous professional risk when he bash Israel, and we give him credit for his courage and audacity no question about it, but also we must read between the lines. He has been a Pro Peace activist for years and he chose to stand beside the Palestinian cause, because it was a moral duty, he is defending the Truth, he is defending Justice, as he wants to say, he sides with the Law.

When Professor comes to any forum, people always expect that he defend the rights of Palestinians, because if he is on the side of the law as he says he is, he has to acknowledge that going back to the time when Israel was discussed on the League of Nations now United Nations, and when the few countries that voted to partition Palestine to create Israel, they did it on the basis that the rights of the Inhabitants of the Land, in this case Palestinians Muslims and Palestinians Christians would not be violated, that The Right of Return will be respected and that Jerusalem which hold the 3 major religions will be under the United Nations Mandate, so everything that Israel is now, it is Illegal.

As he says, “The Law it’s Clear, we can not be selective with the Law” Norman Finkelsteing

If the United Nations it is an International Body with legal binding to Create out of nowhere a State, as it did in 1948, then “It is the Law”, and should be respected, so why then!, when it comes to Palestine, the Law it is selective, and all the resolutions are not considered binding and are not enforced, and when Palestinians speak in a way to enforced the law, to bring Israel to comply with the law, not violently as it is the BDS Movement Professor Norman Frankenstein consider these Palestinians dishonest?

I add two screen shots of the original document of the United Nations – Resolution 194-8 and 194-11

All things being Equal, The truth will prevail. When given a fair chance, the truth should survive, because it is more natural, more attractive, and less contrived than falsehood. In a democracy, certain rights are inalienable, so that all men are equal before the law, on that assumption we must pressure Israel to abide by it’s own propagated idea that being “The only democracy in the Middle East” must abide by the law, the basic principle in a Democracy, so defending the Truth we will reach a conclusion.

I think where the Anti BDS propaganda is coming from..Ali Abu Nimah, Gilad Atzmon, Omar Barghouti and Norm Finkelstein..All of them being persons of weight in the media have expressed an opinion which have been taken out of context and have exponentially get out of control.

“Gilad Atzmon: “For more than a while, myself and others are very suspicious of the BDS. For some peculiar reason the BDS in the West is dominated by Jewish activists. Though the BDS’ principle is valid and worth a fight, it has become clear to many of us that something went wrong along the way. Last month we have seen BDS calls to stop Norman Finkelstein; this month we see BDS calls to stop me. Great, isn’t it. The BDS is now used to stifle freedom within the solidarity discourse.”

I m not blaming Gilad Atzmon for the anti BDS sentiment that is moving around, I m quoting his words that probably started the whole anti movement, added to the controversial interview of Norman Finkelstein and Ali Abu Nimah all added fire to the already heated debated on BDS.

I think he found the roots for the anti contra propaganda BDS movement. The people pushing harder on the surface the BDS movement are hijacking the movement and on the way, trying to silence the dissidents Jews as Gilad ATzmon and Norman Finkelstein because they are taking center stage in the Palestine Justice Movement and many people went along with the line pushed by a anonymous groups, that seems to operate as a behind the scene elements, type of spy rigs planting “thoughts” that are hurting the BDS movement. which is basically doing exactly what the Jews economic global boycott of Germany Goods did in Germany to weaken Hitler economical power during the second world world, and in South Africa during the horrible Apartheid Era.

I completely agree with Gilad Atzmon in its criticism of certain groups that are working within the BDS movement to silence him or other Jews dissidents, but I do not agree the wave of anti BDS sentiment that his words have created, and sadly I have seen good friends and Pro Palestinians activists writing against BDS. This is a movement that belongs to Palestine where millions of people are taking part of it, it is not exclusive of one or two people. The ones speaking against the BDS Campaign are doing great damage to Palestine.

“For more than ten years I have been writing about Israel, Zionism and Jewish identity. I am engaged in a process of deconstruction and critique of different Jewish texts, ideas, politics and practice. My intent is aiming towards some deeper realisation of what Zionism is. In my opinion, Zionism is one of the most dangerous political movements. It is a global operation that threatens world peace on a daily basis.” Gilad Atzmon

WHAT IS BDS?

In 2005, Palestinian civil society issued a call for a campaign of boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with international law and Palestinian rights. A truly global movement against Israeli Apartheid is rapidly emerging in response to this call. Boycott and Disinvestment Sanctions

The BDS movement it is not property of few persons, this it is a global campaign of awareness, to pressure Israel to end her apartheid practices inside the Occupied Territories, and to force Israel to respect the Human Rights of Palestinians that live in West Jerusalem, Gaza and West Bank.

“Boycott is a real complicated issue. For years we’ve been arguing in favour of divestment and boycott. At the time I supported any form of boycott in Israel, its products and its culture.

There are some elements in the boycott that are obviously very welcome. For instance, the fact that UK unions are standing up against Zionist evil is a major shift in the very right direction. The Boycott is certainly bad news for Israel and this is wonderful news in itself. Yesterday, I went to a reading of a play, it was actually a theatrical adaptation my latest book. The producer is Jewish, and at a certain stage when we were discussing the meaning of the play he stood up and said. “You see, we had a Jewish State, it is now sixty years later, and it is a very horrible place, it is so horrible that it has now been boycotted. And this is there to make us think, where did it go wrong?” This is the most positive impact of the boycott. It makes people reflect.” Gilad Atzmon July 2007

When Gilad Atzmon refer to Jewish, you have to understand his philosophy and point of view regarding the Modern Jewish in Israel and their mentality of chosen ones..Mentality that it is more and more intrinsic, by the Jewish Only Political Spectrum in Israel, and the tremendous power of Jewish Lobbys groups around the world..
Let’s not to confuse Israel Jewish Only Policies and Jewish as a religious person. I think we have to start using more the term, Judaism to separate the Jewish people ideology such the ones that support Israel Only Jewish policies and the Real Religious Person such Neturei Karta Ortodox Jews. ..
Recently a group of Intellectuals, and Pro Palestinians endorsed Ali Abu Minah in their letter against Gilad Atzmon. I think that some people are using the spot light of others to become center piece in the Palestinian Movement..

There are thousands of Pro Palestinians individuals that have worked very hard for the cause of Palestine, investing their time and sometimes their money without even thinking twice. And also there are Thousands of Pro Palestinians Individual that have make their job the Palestinian cause, they also have invested their time for the Palestinian cause, but they have become so active and busy that they have dedicated their life to Palestine and they have to make money to support themselves using various ways to do it..like private donations, or setting up Non Profit Organizations where the structure is similar to the official NGO’s that participate in charities but only do it to deduct taxes.
Now there is a special group of Individual that have become on the surface Pro Palestinians, not because they love Palestine, but because they fight Injustice.

I don’t think Gilad Atzmon or Prof Norman Finkelstein want the State of Israel to be wiped out of the map, NO! but they want that Israel behave as a democratic State that work inside the parameters of International law, that stop behaving as a Racist, Antisemitic State that promote anti tolerance, hate and disregard International Law.
Professor Norman Finkelstein to be in this category, he arguments that Israel violates International Law, War Rules and Universal Rights Statutes, specially when he speaks of Israel crimes in Gaza and he is very critical of individuals that defend Israel No matter what, like Prof Horowitz..

He engage in discussions with Pro Israelis personalities with Facts and the Law in his side. Well he thinks he is using the Law, but he end up contradicting himself in many occasion.

On February 2012 a video clip was released on youtube on an interview titled

Arguing the BDS Movement:Interview with Frank Barata and Political Scientist, writer and activist Norman Finkelstein Enforce the Law, it’s unambigual, uncomplicated. The law is clear, the settlements are illegal, the East of Jerusalem it’s occupied territory,the West Bank and Gaza are occupied territories, but there is also correct that Israel it’s a State, and that it’s the law.

He goes on to says that if we want to use the law as a weapon, as a tool to reach public opinion, we can not be selective with the law.
He calls the “So call Palestinian Authority” corrupt, he does not give any credit to the efforts of the PA behind doors peace talks that they conduct, he says that the endless bargain-type of negotiations that are going nowhere, Prof Finkelstein calls the PA corrupt and puts as example Mubarack from Egypt that was forced to step down when the Egyptian people raised against him, and underneath of all his words, he also says that the PA is a collaborator of Israel, well not exactly this words but the way that the PA have kept itself in power delivering nothing to the Palestinians but empty promises, and at the same time trying to be equal partner with Israel it seems that they are collaborating with Israel, which in facts is what they are doing, after Abbas become President, the relation changed drastically for Palestinians, the collaboration between the PA and Israel become like a cozy relationship, where the PA is serving the interest of Israel when arrest and criminalize Palestinians that protest against the occupation, all the money that comes from US Aid come with a price tag attached.
Prof Finkelstein is clearly saying that Palestine will never win this conflict with Israel because it will need to be extracted by force, in this case military force using the People of Palestine, the only weapon Palestine has, and it is almost unimaginable that Israel will give one inch to Palestine as the situation continues the way is now.
We do not need to be experts military strategists to see the future of Palestine, Israel is one of the most powerful armies of the word that possess the most technologically advance weaponry, and in top of everything, it has the full support of the armies of the world if she will ever needs them, US gives more than 3 billions dollars in Military Aid, and Loan Guarantees so, what it is the prospect that Palestine ever going to win this almost one side war?, if we can call it a war.
Norm Finkelstein position on this conflict is strictly judicial and in the frame of International Law, which he clearly mention over and over again, but at the same time he will emphasized Palestinian mistakes when they act outside the law, according to Prof Finkelstein The BDS Movements are speaking publicly about enforcing the law but the arguments they use are not enforceable inside the frames of International law because it is not practical in the ground, even thought it is “ideologically possible” and almost as a fantasy, the three points that BDS preach does not include Israel, it fact, if it will ever become a reality it will eliminate Israel from the Map because bringing 6 or 7 millions Palestinians Refugees to Israel this population will swallow the Israeli population, and with the other two points, of equal rights for Arabs inside Israel they will eventually
will control politically Israel a panorama envisioned by the BDS movement but according to Prof Finkelstein it is dishonest and will never achieve its goals.
Everything that Professor argue it is truth, but he never speaks of the other side, the disenfranchised Palestinian Population that was displaced from Palestine when Israel was forced upon them, he takes a comfort position talking on 1967 borders that are supposedly the legal borders of Israel, as if Israel has respected those borders. He does not argue the legality of the State of Israel being inserted in the heart of the middle east.

Professor Finkelstein does not argue in this interview with Frank Barat,- the plight of the Palestinians that become refugees in neighborhood countries, where they are not accepted as a citizens. All his arguments would be valid only if Israel has respected the UN resolutions that were signed, but Israel has not respected not even one resolution, so Israel loses legality and credibility in the International community, so The DBS Movements with its three pillars it can be possible and eventually will be possible because the International Community, meaning All the world it is tired of the arrogance of Israel, it is tired of the impunity of Israel. Soon or later Israel will follow the faith of South Africa Apartheid System.

The second argument of Professor Finkelstein is related to the Right of Return of Palestinians Refugees, if he wants to be Fair and Just, he needs to Remember that on November 27, 1948 Resolutions Adopted by the General Assembly at its 3rd Sessions they agreed on these very important issues, (Illustration 1 and 2) and as he says “that’s the law” and should be taken in consideration when he take his position. The facts in the ground are clear, Israel was created by the will of some powerful individuals, they did not ask the Palestinians if they wanted to share their homeland.

After Palestine was partitioned every one have being asking patient, restrain and sacrifice only to Palestinians, they are the only ones in this conflict that are being asked to follow International Law. Don’t they deserve consideration? after all they are the victims. The Law is Clear, and as we see it is Unfair, and Unjust.

Gilad Atzmon it’s very critical of the Jewish Ideology, he insist and with reason, that the State of Israel have instilled the choosiness and exclusivity in the minds of Jews inside Israel for convenience to advance her colonial rule in Palestine.

The detractors of Gilad Atzmon are working hard to undo the work that he has done in behalf of Palestine.
They are using the wrong arguments for the wrong reasons for the Right Cause, that it is Palestine.

But some people get entangle in the mix of criticism, some are Genuine Pro Palestinians Mislead by the well oiled Pro Israeli groups propaganda that trying to destroy the carer of Gilad Atzmon because he become “Too Famous” with his books and with his Endeavor for Palestine.
They are bashing his work in an attempt to stop him from going more vocal in favor of Palestine, but their attempts to destroy him are making him more famous, so famous that also my conspirator mind take me for scabrous laberyntos of distrust, thinking sometimes that “What about” if he created all this to push his books, do not blame me, I have the same though of Prof Norman Finkelstein, do not forget that propaganda works both ways.
I know by his work that he is Pro Justice, Pro Peace and on that instance supporter of the Palestine Cause.

“For me to be Jewish is, above all, to be preoccupied with overcoming injustice and thirsting for justice in the world, and that means being respectful toward other peoples regardless of their nationality or religion, and empathetic in the face of human suffering whoever and wherever victimization is encountered” (Gilad Atzmon, “On Jewish Identity,” 1/15/2011).

If this great Anti BDS Campaign happen to be a stunt propaganda for sell books, we can be very disappointed, but that Pro Palestinians take the bite and start going along with the propaganda, …that it is irreproachable, irresponsible and signs of poor judgement from part of the Palestinian Solidarity Movement.

I recently I heard some statements against the BDS movement asserting that they have not worked, and that on the contrary that Israel was more economically solvent than ever. Farther from the truth, the economical melt down is a global phenomenon, and for Israel added to the BDS campaign and US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel the situation it is difficult from the political implications of its unpopular policies and laws against Palestinians Christian and Palestinians Muslims alike, and the economical collapse could be closer than they think.

There were dozens of Protests in Israel, the occupy movement have reached the Neo Holy Land also. Israel as a State have invested most of (its)money in weapons that only make rich a few individuals, the unrest in Israel it is well known. There is no magical wand that can exclude the Jews in Israel from the global natural and unavoidable evolution of our world, the thoughts have evolved creating mass consciousnesses of social awakening, and economical inequality is the first sign spotted by the ordinary citizen, and segregation by policy it is seen, and felt in Israel by the blocks of population that comprise the newly acquire homeland.

To open up the discussion on Omar Barghouti “hypocritical position on academic boycott”, as some have called it, while he is doing his PHD in a “Israeli University”, well a question was asked On 7th March 2011 in the London Review Bookshop that hosted the launch of Omar Barghouti‘s book “BDS: Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions – The Global Struggle for Palestinian Rights”..And I have to agree with the staff writer of Inminds.com, that very candidly says his impression on Omar Barghouti.

“Omar Barghouti‘s approach is always very rational which means that unless someone is being dishonest with themselves they will have no choice but to accept the arguments Omar Barghouti puts forward in support of BDS. A great example of this was his reply to a Question from the audience:” Inminds.com

Audience Question: Omar, you are living in Israel, you are doing a PhD, you are studying in an Israeli university. How does that equate with your boycott campaign, isn’t that hypocritical to live in Israel and consume everything Israeli, then call for a boycott of Israel?

And secondly, if God forbid, you ever needed a life saving medicine, or a member of your family.. in Israel, would you accept that medicine or would you reject that life saving medicine?

Omar Barghouti: I think Mandela went to an apartheid university, when you are living under apartheid you have no choice. You pay taxes to the apartheid regime, you accept services from the apartheid regime, how else can you survive? You go to hospitals, you go to universities, you go to the post office, you go to government offices in the apartheid regime. You are a ‘subject’ of that colonial system, there is no other way. Gandhi studied at a British university as well.

The point is that when you are under occupation, when you are under apartheid, no have no moral choice. There is no choice. We ask people from outside to boycott because they have a moral choice. Responsibility comes with choice.

Germans under Nazi rule who couldn’t open their mouths were cowards but we can perhaps forgive them for not opening their mouths when you think you would be shot by the Nazi genocidal regime if they opened their mouths. Israelis that stay silent are far more cowardly because they do have a choice and they wont get shot if they stand up against the occupation. So we measure this with how much choice you have. When you have no choice what do you do?

So there is absolutely no double standard for people under oppression to call on people who are not under oppression, standing in solidarity with them, to oppose and boycott completely the oppressive regime. What we cannot do, you can do in the UK.

The second part of your question.. of course we do not boycott Israeli medicines in Israel. What else can we buy? We are not irrational. I don’t know your view of the Arabs.. but you know we are not suicidal..

A Q. [interrupts]: Why do you live there if you don’t like it there?

Omar Barghouti: Its my country, I’m a Palestinian.

A Q: You were brought up in Egypt

Omar Barghouti: I’m a refugee. Refugee’s have a right to go home. I’m a Palestinian.

“the two-state solution, besides having passed its expiry date, it was never a moral solution to start with. In the best-case scenario, if UN resolution 242 were meticulously implemented, it would have addressed most of the legitimate rights of less than a third of the Palestinian people over less than a fifth of their ancestral land. More than two thirds of the Palestinians, refugees plus the Palestinian citizens of Israel, have been dubiously and shortsightedly expunged out of the definition of the Palestinians. Such exclusion can only guarantee the perpetuation of conflict.” Omar Barghouti December 14, 2003 Counter Punch

JustFaith is a 30 week program of prayer, study and action for justice based on Catholic social teaching. Participants learn about civil rights, peace and justice efforts and the nonviolence of Jesus. They examine how their purchases and investments might further unjust systems.

Their formation has included “Journey To Justice,” a retreat organized by the Office of Life, Justice and Peace of the Archdiocese of Portland.

Now what Omar Barghouti the Co-founder of BDS Movement is saying these days about the Anti BDS Campaign?

We know of Israel To judge a Book by its cover it’s never been the best way to find its content, to argue about the real content of a book, using as argument the picking pieces from the Internet and/or opinions of others, it is in-genuine, and show luck of judgment.

If Israel doesn’t want to obey international law then why should Israel be recognized as a legitimate state? Israel can’t have it both ways

Why We should Boycott ISRAEL..Not because Omar Barghouti says so, Not because Norman Finkelstein says is a cult, and UN have not recognized The Word Apartheid, we boyccott not because Ali Abuminah does not like Gilad Atmoz and call him Anti-Semite, or because Gilad Atmoz do not like Omar Barghouti and calls him Racist, or because key activists started Contra Propaganda against BDS and against Key Pro Palestinians. We don’t follow negative propaganda and empty words that create controversy and sell book.

No! All that is dirty Politics, all the running around against each other and attacking Pro Palestinians it is falling in the same tactics that Israel uses to divide and conquer.
No! we are not sheep, we are critical thinkers, we are the..Conscience Objectors of Israel Apartheid Regime that are taking part in the global boycott movement, we are doing it for PALESTINE ONLY FOR PALESTINE..

TO RESTORE THEIR RIGHTS, TO HELP THEM TO BE HEARD BY THE WORLD THAT FOR YEARS WAS SILENCE.

DO YOU KNOW THAT PALESTINE WILL BE SELF SUFFICIENT IS ISRAEL STOP STEALING PALESTINIANS NATURAL RESOURCES.

PALESTINE WILL BE RICH IF LEFT USE ITS MINERALS IN THE DEAD SEA,
IF LET EXPLOIT ITS NATURAL GAS IN GAZA SHORES,ISRAEL STOP UPROOTING ANCIENT OLIVE TREES..
IF ISRAEL REMOVE THE PHYSICAL WALL THAT SEPARATE PALESTINIANS FROM THEIR LANDS AND THEIR BUSINESS
JUST THE TIME SAVE MEANS MONEY.
EFFORTS AND RESOURCES TO BE FIGHTING A WORTHLESS OCCUPATION WILL BE USE TO RESTORE PEOPLES PROPERTIES AND REVIVE PALESTINIAN ECONOMY…

Palestine loses close to 7 billion dollars every year..
“The economy of the Palestinian suffers annual losses of seven billion dollars because of the occupation, which has turned these territories into one of the most aid-dependent economies in the world.

In this respect, the ambassador of PNA in the UN, Riyad Mansour, said in an interview with Prensa Latina that the cost of domination is easily quantifiable, so that if this policy ends, “we will be able to be self-sufficient and not need external help.”

The seven billion dollars lost to the Palestinian economy in 2010 amounts to almost the entire Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually, and this damage was produced by depriving the residents in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza from using their natural resources.” Correspondent for Prensa Latina in Egypt.Palestinian numbers, a despicable occupation – Translated from the Portuguese version by: Lisa Karpova Pravda.Ru

Follow your conscience, follow what you feel is right, propaganda is cheap and cost great division.
Who cares what people writes about activist it is what activist do in behalf of Palestine what counts, what ever works to create awareness counts, any efforts aim to let the world know that Palestine

Who cares that “Important” people says that BDS is not working. WE KNOW it is working, we know that boycotting Israel a Rogue State that does not respect International Law is a human duty. The BDS is beyond reproach, and trying to stop us from exercising a rightful humanitarian global movement it is a treason against our own human nature.

“The end of the Cold War, moreover, changed the West’s attitudes towards Africa. Western governments no longer had strategic interests in propping up repressive regimes merely because they were friendly to the west. Along with the World Bank, they concluded that one party regimes lacking popular participation constituted a serious hindrance to economic development and placed new emplhasis on the need for democratic reform” The Struggles for Democracy- Martin Meredith -The Fate of Africa

Professor Jonathan Rosenhead is chair of the British Committee for the Universities of Palestine (BRICUP) which is the main organisation in the UK supporting the academic and cultural boycotts of Israel, it parallels PACBI in Palestine. Professor Rosenhead is also an activist, taking part in the flotilla, sailing to Gaza to break the Israeli seige.

References

The Fate of AFRICA – Martin Meredith -Public Affairs Series – 2005

How Israel was won – – June 17, 1999

Palestinians Civil Society Calls for BDS- BDS National Committee– July 9, 2005 -BDSmovement.net

Gilad Atzmon Interviewed: Each Village is a Reminder by Brian Lenzo- July 13. 2010 – Palestine Chronicle

Why Is BDS a Moral Duty Today? A Response to Bernard-Henri Levy – Omar Barghouti – January 11, 2011- Huffington Post The Blog

On Gilad Atzmon-Disavowal: “…a mental act that consists in rejecting the reality of a perception.”-by William A. Cook