|
Trending Topics
|
Manipulation and Deception: The Anti-Israel "BDS" Campaign (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions)
(Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Alan Baker and Adam Shay - The BDS campaign seeks to manipulate people who are generally unfamiliar with the intricate details and history of the issues in the Middle East, by instilling into their minds an inherent bias against, and hostility towards, Israel. The movement is composed of a relatively small number of full-time, well-financed, anti-Israel activists who are inspired and encouraged by senior Palestinian figures. Their mode of operation includes stalking members of the general public on the streets and threats of action against companies, suppliers, stores, academic institutions, as well as performers, unless they disassociate themselves from any Israel-related connection. In many cases this constitutes blatant harassment of the general public, and arbitrary denial of basic rights to freedom of choice, freedom to use public areas in shopping malls and streets, freedom to enter stores, freedom to purchase, freedom to conduct commercial relations, and freedom to choose cultural and artistic events. The BDS campaign thereby abuses democratic rights and freedoms in the social, cultural, commercial, and educational spheres of those countries in which it is conducted. Amb. Alan Baker is former Legal Adviser to Israel's Foreign Ministry and former Ambassador of Israel to Canada. Adam Shay, a senior program coordinator and researcher at the Jerusalem Center, is often called upon by producers and concert promoters to help battle BDS activists in their attempts to pressure artists into canceling shows in Israel.