Stop BDS Conference takes place at the United Nations
Photo from jpost.com
BY: Nisreen Eadeh/Staff Writer
On Tuesday, Israel’s Mission to the United Nations and the World Jewish Conference held an unprecedented conference at the United Nations called Stop BDS. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement (BDS) has been growing for 10 years around the world, particularly among students and young professionals.
BDS serves to boycott companies that contribute to the illegal occupation of Palestinians, as well as Israeli products made in the illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. This mission is a non-violent method of practicing free speech and express concern for Palestinian human rights.
Feeling threatened by the growth of BDS, Israel and its lobbying groups went to the UN to appeal to delegates, international leaders, and special UN groups to ask them to help stop BDS. Headed by Danny Dannon, the Israeli delegation and their 1,500 supporters filled the UN’s General Assembly for Stop BDS. Matisyahu, a Jewish performer, played for the cheering crowd.
Attendees were there to address what they consider a growing anti-Israel bias at the UN, on college campuses, and within companies around the world. According to Danon, Israel continues to be targeted, while other countries with deplorable human rights and conditions are ignored. The mission considers these sentiments anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist. The event served to enhance Israel’s anti-BDS message and show the world the beautiful side of Israel.
Naturally, many people following Stop BDS from Twitter did not agree with the conference’s message. #StopBDS was quickly trending on Twitter with supporters and critics tweeting out statements. Some pundits called the conference a “PR nightmare” for many reasons. Journalists and activists were saying the best way to #StopBDS is to give non-Jews in Israel equal rights, give Palestinian refugees the right to return, and end the occupation.
Others suggested the conference was a poor use of the UN and delegates’ time, given the amount of massive issues affecting all nations, such as poverty, hunger, climate change, and war. It hardly seems responsible for the UN to set aside several hours of a day to allow Israel to demonize people who boycott and criticize illegal practices, which were deemed illegal by the UN and its justice bodies.