Off my radar until today, Boycott from Within is a group of courageous Israeli citizens, both Palestinians and Jews united, inspired by the struggle of South Africans against Apartheid who have joined Palestinian Civil Society in their call for International Boycott Divestment and Sanctions against Israel.
From their website (my bold):
As people devoted to the promotion of just peace and true democracy in this region, we are especially opposed to the international community’s decision to boycott the Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This is particularly outrageous given the international community’s prolonged support of Israel’s apartheid and other daily violations of international law.
Joseph Dana reports the group is “making international waves” and have taken credit for the recent cancellation of French pop star Vanessa Paradis’s performance in Israel as well as currently pressuring British Telecom to divest from occupation.
(my bold)
The existence of an Israeli group calling for BDS reflects a new strategy in the radical left in Israel. Frustrated with an Israeli public that is unwilling to listen, those few citizens who are fighting for an end to the occupation are now focusing on the international community to bring about change on the ground. While the numbers are small, Boycott From Within is having a major impact on the ability of Israel to maintain an illegal occupation while being accepted as a member of the international community. However, politicians in Knesset are aware of the danger that BDS poses to the maintenance of the occupation and parliamentary bills are currently being designed to punish Israelis openly engaged in any BDS activity. Should a democracy allow its citizens the freedom to openly call for a boycott of the country in order to end illegal practices of the government? Whatever the answer, BDS is a new force confronting Israel’s occupation which is gaining momentum throughout the world and inside Israel.
I urge everyone to visit their website and head over to +972 to watch the video interview of Israeli Activist Ofer Neiman, member of Boycott from Within and editor of Occupation Magazine explain BDS “as a last resort after so many decades nothing else has worked. Israli peace groups are not big enough or strong enough and we need support from outside”
There’s real talent, brains, beauty and guts happening within this group. Waves today, tsunami tomorrow! (h/t Ben White)
