BDS is the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement started by Palestinian non-governmental organizations, or NGOs. It attempts to increase economic pressure on Israel to comply with the stated goals of the movement. The one big goal is the promotion of the de-legitimization of Israel because all of these sponsoring groups want one thing…the total destruction of Israel. The whole concept put forth by the Palestinian leadership about statehood and right-of-return is bogus.
Actually, all the BDS campaign is doing is emboldening Hamas who has taken charge in Gaza and the Palestinian territory. Have they brought about reforms, democracy, freedom of speech, and women’s rights? The answer is no. BDS appears to be doing more to promote the Hamas agenda, which has been and still is, ending the existence of Israel. They are not interested in peace. What they want is the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic state.
There is not only economic pressure, but academic and cultural boycotts are also frequently seen. What is disturbing are the anti-Israel activities going on in university campuses in the USA, Canada, Australia, and Britain. Do these “bastions of higher learning” realize that by allowing BDS activists to disseminate their hateful rhetoric they are helping Hamas…or do they care? BDS supporters also are opposed to any meetings between Israelis and Palestinians and are carrying Hamas’ brief to boycott peace talks. It’s a disgrace that uninformed professors, along with Muslim student associations, are poisoning the minds of young college students with venomous, inaccurate, lies, and college administrations are allowing this to happen.
There is an epidemic of Jewish hatred at colleges in the United States and 54% of Jewish students report being subjected to or witnessing anti-Semitic actions and speech. It was a surprise to find out that some of our most prestigious universities are the most anti-Semitic. These are the top ten colleges that are allowing the most harassment of Jewish students: Columbia University, Cornell University, George Mason University, Loyola University (Chicago), Portland State University, San Diego State University, San Francisco State University, Temple University, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and Vassar. These schools not only have anti-Semitism running rampant on campus, but have hosted many anti-Jewish events.
Now, Coca-Cola has gotten into the act. Zahi Khouri, CEO of Coca-Cola Palestine has called for a boycott on Israel. He has written articles in American newspapers, and other publications, and participated in media interviews, always advancing his ideology. A letter was written by Nitsana Darshan Leitner, founder of Shurat HaDin, which is a legal rights organization, and legal counsel Robert Tolchin, to Muhtar Kent, CEO of Coca-Cola, about Khouri’s statement. In the letter they protested Khouri’s actions. On the Coca-Cola website you can read about an award presented to Khouri and about the Palestinian CEO’s “optimism, grit, and reflection”.
Is this where Coca-Cola company stands? We just don’t know. I will tell you that I’ve started drinking Pepsi-Cola and I enjoy it. The BDS movement is not only anti-Israel, it is also anti-Semitic and I am appalled that a major US company can go along with one of their top executives supporting a boycott of Israel.
Let’s remind all of the BDS supporters that, if they truly believe in their cause, they should refrain from partaking in any of the products and inventions contributed by Israel, to society. That would mean omitting any items from the following fields…math, science, robotics, chemistry, physics, optics, medicine, economics, bio-technology, computer science, agriculture, energy, defense, consumer goods and appliances, games, foods, and physical exercise. Now, what contributions have these BDS supporters given to civilization, other than hate-filled rhetoric and actions?
photo credit: mechanixstudios Layer-104—Copy3 via photopin (license)
