Jewish Group Prepares New Battle Against Israel Boycott

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Jewish Group Prepares New Battle Against Israel Boycott

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JERUSALEM — Mar 28, 2016, 1:23 PM ET

The head of an organization representing Jewish communities worldwide says it is launching a new initiative to counter the anti-Israel boycott movement on college campuses.

Ron Lauder, chairman of the World Jewish Congress, says his group will dispatch activists to as many as two dozen campuses around the world to train students on how to organize and respond to anti-Israel activity. He says he expects the initiative to begin next fall.

The BDS movement promotes boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel in what it says is a nonviolent struggle against Israeli occupation. In recent years, it has made gains on U.S. campuses.

In an interview Monday, Lauder accuses the BDS campaign of trying to destroy Israel, saying "we will fight them, and we will win."

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/jewish-group-prepares-battle-israel-boycott-37980237

[ericson00]

1. god speed. Americans of all stripes, Democrat, Republican, Independent

stand with Israel

[King_David]

2. No longer going like lambs...

Not since 1948

Bernie Sanders was right to call out this BDS movement as being antisemitic.

[Little Tich]

3. I'm opposed to the settlements and the occupation, so I sincerely hope that the World Jewish

Congress fails in all its attempts to shield the settlements from criticism.

A victory for the World Jewish Congress is a victory for the settlements, and I don't want that.

[shira]

4. The WJC is fighting hatred & incitement, not shielding settlements from criticism

The BDS movement is filled almost entirely with holocaust denying white supremacists, neo-nazis. and leftwing fascist supporters of terrorists.

All decent people should oppose BDS.

These are different days. Gone are the ones when Jews feared standing up to the Jew haters.

[Little Tich]

5. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I still suspect this is just another plot to deflect criticism from the

settlements.

Could you please show me in what way the World Jewish Congress differentiates between the settlements and Israel - or is it as I suspected - just another plot to deflect criticism from the settlements?

[shira]

6. Plenty of people oppose settlements/occupation while also opposing BDS...

Ask yourself why that is.

[Little Tich]

7. Please name at least one.

And please, not just a person who has an opinion, but also is involved in actually opposing BDS, like Ron Lauder (even though he's not a good example, as he's just a shill for the settlements).

If you're actually able to show me that such a person exists, it would help your argument immensely.

[shira]

8. President Obama opposes BDS but is against settlements.

http://www.jta.org/2016/02/25/news-opinion/united-states/battle-over-defining-bds-makes-it-into-presidential-signing-statement-but-that-wont-end-it

I know it's easier for you to pretend those opposing BDS support the settlements, but the reality is decent people oppose racist hate movements like BDS.

[Little Tich]

9. Obama hasn't signed on to any anti-BDS legislation that I know of.

But do you know of any person who is involved in opposing BDS but at the same time is opposed to the settlements? It could be some politician in Illinois who voted for a bill opposing BDS, or a faculty member at the Columbia University who signed a petition against BDS, or basically anyone you could think of.

I'm beginning to feel that my suspicions that all attempts to oppose BDS is just a way to deflect criticism from the settlements are becoming justified.

[shira]

10. That's exactly what Obama did. He signed an anti-BDS bill...

Obama signs Israel anti-boycott provisions into law, settlements and all
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2016/02/25/obama-signs-israel-anti-boycott-provisions-into-law-settlements-and-all/

There's no question Obama opposes settlements but also opposes BDS for being a racist hate movement.

I'm beginning to feel that my suspicions that all attempts to oppose BDS is just a way to deflect criticism from the settlements are becoming justified.

LoL.

[Little Tich]

11. Apparently, Obama opposed the provisions in the bill he signed that included ‘Israeli-controlled

territories’.

“I have directed my administration to strongly oppose boycotts, divestment campaigns, and sanctions targeting the State of Israel,” Obama said in a signing statement. “As long as I am president, we will continue to do so. Certain provisions of this act, by conflating Israel and ‘Israeli-controlled territories,’ are contrary to longstanding bipartisan United States policy, including with regard to the treatment of settlements.”

Source: http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/334195/president-obama-signs-anti-bds-bill-wont-apply-to-settlements/

So, in order to both be against BDS and the settlements at the same time, you have to be opposed to the bill/petition/whatever that you sign?

Curiouser and curiouser...

[shira]

12. You asked for an example, you got it. Opposing settlements doesn't equate to support of BDS.

Obama opposes settlements but signs bills against BDS. He directs his administration to oppose BDS. Obama just wanted to make it clear that although he opposes BDS, he still opposes settlements.

Why pretend otherwise?

You're wrong. Acknowledge it & move on...

ps,
Uri Avnery opposes BDS, yet heads the Israel boycott Team against settlements. I just kicked that thread.

[shira]

13. Tich, you wanted one but I'm naming 4 people. Obama, Avnery, Chomsky, Finkelstein....

Here's Chomsky opposing BDS even though he opposes settlements...

#t=598


Here's Finkelstein opposing BDS too. His anti-settlement activism also speaks for itself...

This should forever end this silly, dishonest charade about people who oppose BDS being pro-settlements.

Game over.

BDS is a hateful, warmongering movement.

[Little Tich]

16. Did you think that I wouldn't watch the clips?

Noam Chomsky seems to support some forms of BDS but is also against boycotting Israel. Norman Finkelstein doesn't mention boycotting the settlements at all. I'm not sure what legislation/petition/whatever they're involved with, so I assume they're just people with opinions.

But you haven't managed to show that there's a single organized effort to stop BDS that isn't just a way to protect the settlements. This is probably why the people you've brought up aren't involved in these things. The bill that Obama was forced to sign was such an attempt, and that's why he was against signing it.

I feel as if my suspicions are completely confirmed - all organized efforts to counter BDS are just a way to protect the settlements and nothing else.

[shira]

18. I recommend everyone watch these clips. We're arguing 2 different things...

My argument is simply that BDS is opposed vehemently by MANY people who are against settlements. It's not just opposed by righwing pro-settlement types.

Chomsky & Finkelstein are very vocal supporters of the Palestinian cause, but they call BDS out for the dishonest warmongering movement it is.

You wanted an example of someone very ACTIVELY involved in opposing BDS and I gave you Obama & his entire administration. You chose to ignore that and pretend there's no one out there against settlements who is actively involved in the fight against BDS.

[Little Tich]

19. Let me show you what I mean, and why I feel that I'm 100% right in my suspicions:

What you have is four people being critical of the "BDS movement" in various ways. That's OK, I don't like the the "BDS movement" either. However, I don't know of any attempt to counter BDS that differentiates between Israel and the settlements, which was my argument all along. I had a peek at the most recent threads in the I/P group about attempts to counter BDS, and none of them differentiates between Israel and the settlements - they're all supportive of the settlements in some way, which really makes me believe that my suspicions are confirmed:

Jewish Group Prepares New Battle Against Israel Boycott
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134126630

After Congressional Intervention, Death Threat, Ohio State Student Gov’t Rejects BDS Resolution
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134126562

Capital U Student Gov’t Passes Unanimous Resolution in Support of Jewish People, Israel
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134126567

Over 200 faculty members sign petition supporting Columbia's ties to Israel
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134126406

Israel, U.S. Working to Block UN Resolution on 'Black List' of Settlement-linked Firms
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134126468

Illinois First State to Boycott Companies Who Boycott Israel
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134126402

Latin American MPs sign resolution supporting Israel and opposing boycotts
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134126242

Chicago students turn tables on BDS with new tactic -- The Jerusalem Post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134125585

Roseanne Barr to attend anti-BDS conference in Israel -- The Jerusalem Post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134125583

German City To Honor Anti-Israel Group Code Pink With Tolerance Prize
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134125360

Canadian Parliament overwhelmingly passes anti-BDS motion
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134125338

Obama signs anti-BDS bill into law
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134124892

Palestinians dismayed by UK plan to stop local councils boycotting Israeli settlements
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134125084


Q.E.D.

[shira]

20. Your suspicions are silly. You think anyone actively opposing BDS is for settlements....

...if they don't boycott settlements in some shape or form.

To say that Obama is for settlements despite his administration ACTIVELY opposing BDS is ridiculous.

And I don't believe for a second you don't like the BDS movement. What don't you like about it and why are you so against opposing it if you don't like it?

Even better - if you were ACTIVE in a movement against BDS, since you say you don't like it, what would that activism look like so that it's still clear you oppose the settlements while opposing BDS?

[King_David]

14. Problem with the BDS org is that it has no concerns for the occupation

They want to boycott Jews , in and outside Israel .....
They don't care what's happening with the occupation.
The BDS org once tried to stop an American Jew performing at a reggae festival but said nothing about a hateful bigoted anti Gay group performing at the same festival.

[Little Tich]

15. Do you know how many companies the "BDS Movement" has convinced to divest from Israel?

Not a single one.

If everyone else is ignoring the "BDS Movement" when it comes to doing BDS, why should I care about them?

[King_David]

17. I agree with you

They not significant at all.