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The Palestinian Case Against BDS

(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Bassem Eid - As a Palestinian dedicated to working for peace and reconciliation between my people and our Israeli neighbors, I do not believe that the BDS advocates are helping our cause. On the contrary, they are just creating more hatred, enmity, and polarization. Recently, when I was asked to talk at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, my talk was disrupted by students wearing BDS T-shirts. They interrupted me and did not allow me to continue speaking, and in the end the event had to be abandoned. As a human rights activist, I am used to hostile reactions from those who disagree with my standpoint. However, even in my own country, I have never witnessed the kind of raw hatred and sheer unreasoning aggression that confronted me on this occasion. There is no connection between the tactics and objectives of the BDS movement and the on-the-ground realities of the Middle East. Most Palestinians continue to buy Israeli goods. The focus of PA leaders is on enriching themselves and their families, rather than uplifting their own people. The Palestinians are tired of the peace process. Both sides have learned to manage the conflict, rather than solve it. There is only one way to bring about peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and that is for both sides to have sufficient goodwill to negotiate their own peace deal. It cannot be imposed by outside diplomatic or economic pressure.
2015-07-03 00:00:00
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