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Mischief in the Trade Legislation would Hinder Progress towards Two States
June 6, 2015
The Citizens Proposal notes with alarm the efforts of AIPAC to insert anti-BDS language in the “fast track” legislation in the Trade Bills being considered by Congress. It is a part of Israel’s efforts to thwart the Palestinian civil society-led campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel and corporations that profit from its oppression of Palestinians. These amendments call on the United States to discourage the BDS campaign in trade talks with the European Union and to encourage countries to blacklist companies that support BDS.
Although we sincerely regret that Israel would require any sort of coercion to come to a negotiated agreement with the Palestinians, we recognize that the intransigence of the Netanyahu government has made the BDS campaign a necessary measure.
BDS measures are legitimate, nonviolent tactics to oppose Israel’s ongoing oppression of Palestinians. They resemble the measures used against South Africa that were successful in bringing an end to apartheid. The United States government has no business setting itself against what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called the “arc of justice,” which in the Middle East should result in Israel and a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security.
The Citizens Proposal notes with alarm the efforts of AIPAC to insert anti-BDS language in the “fast track” legislation in the Trade Bills being considered by Congress. It is a part of Israel’s efforts to thwart the Palestinian civil society-led campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel and corporations that profit from its oppression of Palestinians. These amendments call on the United States to discourage the BDS campaign in trade talks with the European Union and to encourage countries to blacklist companies that support BDS.
Although we sincerely regret that Israel would require any sort of coercion to come to a negotiated agreement with the Palestinians, we recognize that the intransigence of the Netanyahu government has made the BDS campaign a necessary measure.
BDS measures are legitimate, nonviolent tactics to oppose Israel’s ongoing oppression of Palestinians. They resemble the measures used against South Africa that were successful in bringing an end to apartheid. The United States government has no business setting itself against what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called the “arc of justice,” which in the Middle East should result in Israel and a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security.