The United Nations and BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions): Modern Antisemitism

"On 13 July, Al Haq informed that the organization sent letters to several corporations which are highlighted in Al-Haq’s upcoming report on corporate complicity in denying Palestinian’s access to and pillaging of water resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), in violation of Palestinians’ right to self-determination and permanent sovereignty over natural resources. Al-Haq called upon all corporate actors doing business in the OPT, to act with due diligence to avoid further involvement in serious human rights violations and war crimes. Al-Haq called on the corporations involved to comply with their responsibilities under international law, including disengagement."

Editor's note: The words "Al-Haq" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"Al-Haq calls upon the corporations listed above, and all corporate actors doing business in the OPT, to act with enhanced due diligence to avoid further involvement in serious human rights violations and war crimes in the OPT. Al-Haq calls on the corporations involved to comment on their actions within the OPT, and to comply with their responsibilities under international law, including disengagement."

"On 1 February, the European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine published an article informing that an inter-parliamentary task force of legislators from Europe and North America met to discuss various legislative options that lawmakers can pursue to end the import of goods produced in illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian Territory, including by Israeli settlers."

Editor's note: The words "European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"Legislators from Europe and North America met yesterday to discuss various legislative options that lawmakers can pursue to end the import of goods produced in illegal settlements in occupied territory, including by Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt)."

"• On 29 September, Al-Haq informed about a new report on financial transactions between 672 European financial institutions and 50 businesses actively involved with Israeli settlements, in the period January 2018 to May 2021. This report is published by the “Don’t Buy into Occupation” coalition, a cross-regional coalition of Palestinian and European NGOs."

"On 12 August, a group of US–based CSOs – Adalah Justice Project, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, Movement for Black Lives (M4BL), Vermonters for Justice in Palestine, Palestine Legal, American Friends Service Committee, BDS Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace – issued the press release “Where We Stand on Ben & Jerry’s” in which they call on individuals and organisations to support Ben & Jerry’s board decision to not renew its licensing agreement in Israel when it expires at the end of 2022, to organise against laws limiting freedom of protest and boycott, and to support Palestinians against Israel’s policies and actions."

Editor's note: The words "US–based CSOs" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"Recent statements by the board of Ben & Jerry’s have confirmed the company will not renew its licensing agreement in Israel when it expires at the end of 2022. This effectively means the licensee will not sell or manufacture Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in Israel or its illegal settlements... Express support for Ben & Jerry’s board decision, urge Unilever to publicly uphold and support the decision and Board Chair Mittal. Call on other companies to follow suit... Learn how to support or plug into existing BDS campaigns here."

"On 9 June, Al-Haq issued a press release welcoming the drafting and tabling of a bill in the Chilean Parliament prohibiting the importation of goods produced in and sourced from illegal settlements in occupied territories. If passed, the bill will prevent the importation of any goods, products, or services originating in Israel’s illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)."

Editor's note: The words "Al-Haq" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"Al-Haq welcomes the drafting and tabling of a bill in the Chilean Parliament prohibiting the importation of goods produced in and sourced from illegal settlements in occupied territories. The resolution will prevent the importation of any goods, products, or services originating in Israel’s illegal colonial settlements across Palestine. If passed, the law will punish the importation of such products and services imposing criminal penalties on violators, with fines up to five times the customs value of the illegally sourced goods."

"On 19 May, the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights launched the campaign “Tell Congress: End US Complicity in Israel’s Abuses of Palestinians” prompting the public to send letters to Congress to demand the end of US military funding for Israel, to support sanctions on Israel and elevate the Palestinian call for freedom and safety."

Editor's note: The words "US Campaign for Palestinian Rights" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"Each year, $3,800,000,000 of our tax dollars are invested in Israel’s oppression of Palestinians. The U.S. provides Israel with unconditional diplomatic support and military funding, and Israel uses U.S. backing to act with impunity: stealing Palestinian land, entrenching its apartheid regime, and prolonging its blockade on Gaza... Our demand is simple: stop bankrolling ethnic cleansing and apartheid, and start investing in health and safety for all... Send a letter to Congress to demand the following: End U.S. military funding for Israel, support sanctions on Israel, and elevate the Palestinian call for freedom and safety."

"On 18 February, the European Coordination of Committers and Associations for Palestine (ECCP) published the report “UN Database: Six Complicit Companies Receiving EU Taxpayers Money” to denounce that six companies listed for their direct complicity with illegal Israeli settlements, including Alstom and JCB, received EU funds through two research programmes – the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) from 2007 to 2013, and the Horizon 2020 programme from 2014 to 2020."

Editor's note: The words "the European Coordination of Committers and Associations for Palestine (ECCP)" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"The six companies presented below are listed on the UN database, published along the Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/HCR/43/71) in February 2020, for their complicity with serious breaches of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (1). The database lists 112 companies which have been found, following extensive consultation and research by the UN, to be involved in substantial and material illegal settlement-related business activities. This is a significant tool that helps states, businesses and civil society to ensure that companies are not involved or complicit in gross violations through their activities and relationships in such contexts. In addition, the UN database is an important model for global and European efforts towards regulated corporate conduct and respect for human rights, the environment, and international law."

"On 28 December 2020, Al-Haq sent letters to the High Representative of the European Commission, the Executive Vice President and European Union (EU) Commissioner for Trade, and EU Member States with diplomatic representatives in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), welcoming and calling on them to support the principled initiative of the 46 MEPs, representing most of the European Parliament’s political groups, to ban trade with, and support for illegal settlements established in occupied territories."

Editor's note: The words "Al-Haq" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"On 28 December 2020, Al-Haq sent letters to the High Representative of the European Commission, the Executive Vice President and European Union (EU) Commissioner for Trade, and EU Member States with diplomatic representatives in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), welcoming and calling on them to support the principled initiative of the 46 MEPs, representing most of the European Parliament’s political groups, to ban trade with, and support for, illegal settlements established in occupied territories."

"On 19 November, Amnesty International USA issued a statement in response to the United States Department of State announcement designating the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement as antisemitic and planning to identify organizations supporting BDS with a view to reviewing and halting their funding. The statement condemns the new policy, saying that “The Department of State’s targeting of groups advocating for using peaceful means, such as boycotts, to end human rights violations against Palestinians as antisemitic violates freedom of expression and is a gift to those who seek to silence, harass, intimidate and oppress those standing up for human rights around the world."

Editor's note: The words "Amnesty International USA" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"Responding to the United States Department of State announcement designating the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement as antisemitic and planning to identify organizations supporting BDS with a view to reviewing and halting their funding, Bob Goodfellow, the Interim Executive Director of Amnesty International USA, issued the below statement: 'The Department of State’s targeting of groups advocating for using peaceful means, such as boycotts, to end human rights violations against Palestinians as antisemitic violates freedom of expression and is a gift to those who seek to silence, harass, intimidate and oppress those standing up for human rights around the world.'"

"On 13 August, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) issued the statement “We’re Not Buying It: Stop All Israeli Land Grands, Stop All Israeli Rights Violations” in response to Israel’s recent claim of suspending any attempt to annex Palestinian land, through Israel’s new trade agreement with the UAE. JVP stated such claim does nothing to halt the ongoing creeping annexation or the apartheid regime it imposes on Palestinians. JVP added that the US-brokered deal between Israel and the UAE was merely the latest example of governments trading away Palestinian rights and the pressures needed to be kept up on US government to stop enabling Israeli violations."

Editor's note: The words "Jewish Voice for Peace" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"...we need to keep up the pressure on our own government to stop enabling Israeli violations... directly through campaigns like the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement using non-violent pressure directly on Israel."

"On 6 August, Al-Haq and Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR) announced they are seeking to intervene in the Kattenburg v. Canada (Attorney General) case on the labelling of products from illegal Israeli settlements. The NGOs argue that a Canadian decision-maker, when determining whether product labels on commercial goods can refer to illegal settlements as Israeli territory, must consider international human rights agreements and make a decision that is consistent with Canada's obligations under international law."

Editor's note: The words "Al-Haq and Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR)" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"CLAIHR's and Al-Haq's position is that in deciding to permit these "Product of Israel" wine labels, the CFIA [Canadian Food Inspection Agency] did not adequately consider Canada's obligations under international law... When reaching its wine labelling decision, the CFIA should have considered the ways Israel's settlements in the OPT and, in turn, the businesses that operate in these territories, breach international law."

"On 11 June, the European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine (ECCP) welcomed the European Court of Human Rights' unanimous ruling that France's High Court's conviction of 11 activists calling for a boycott of Israeli products on sale in supermarkets violated the European Convention on Human Rights' freedom of expression article. ECCP stated that the European Court's decision comes at a time of widespread condemnation of Israel's plans to formally annex large swathes of the OPT."

Editor's note: The words "European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"Palestinian civil society has reminded states of their obligations to adopt "lawful countermeasures," including a ban on "arms trade and military-security cooperation with Israel" and on trade with Israel's illegal settlements."

"On 10 December, Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR) filed a human rights complaint against JCB (J.C. Bamford Excavators Ltd.), a world-leading construction equipment company headquartered in the United Kingdom, to the UK National Contact Point for the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. LPHR provided evidence that JCB products were used in demolitions relating to incidents in ten villages or areas in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) between 2016 and 2019."

Editor's note: The words "Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR)" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"LPHR concludes its complaint by requesting that JCB: immediately suspend supply of products to Comasco (an Israeli company which is the exclusive dealer of JCB products in Israel) that could be identified as being part of the supply chain that results in demolitions or settlement-related construction, and to permanently cease supply to Comasco should it not be able to provide credible and verifiable guarantees that such products will not be involved in the violation of Palestinian human rights;"

"On 15 May [2019], Jewish Voice for Peace, SumOfUS, the BDS Movement and the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy called for a 24-hour deactivation campaign of Airbnb in honour of Nakba Day. The social media campaign "#deactivateAirbnb", endorsed by an international coalition of 30-plus groups, has organized over 20,000 people to commit to deactivating their Airbnb accounts on May 15."

Editor's note: The words "Jewish Voice for Peace" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"A #deactivateAirbnb Twitterstorm is planned today from 1-3pm EST."

""On 1 May [2019], the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights issued a press release to welcome the introduction of legislation that would end United States funding of Israeli military detention and abuse of Palestinian children. H.R. 2407."

Editor's note: The words "US Campaign for Palestinian Rights" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"Organizations That Support Palestinian Rights Welcome Introduction of Legislation That Would End U.S. Funding for Israeli Military Detention and Abuse of Palestinian Children"

"On 8 October, 16 human rights NGOs urged the EU and its Member States to actively support the United Nations Database on businesses operating in Israeli settlements and cooperate in bringing companies under EU Member States jurisdiction. The NGOs stressed that conducting business in or with the settlements contributed to the maintenance and expansion of settlements in breach of international law. The United Nations Database was therefore a necessary and proportionate measure to promote greater transparency, accountability and respect by both States and businesses of international law."

Editor's note: The words "16 human rights NGOs" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"The undersigned human rights organisations stress the utmost importance of European Union (EU) and Member States supporting the United Nations (UN) Database on businesses operating in Israeli settlements (the Database)... While we welcome the steps taken so far by the EU and its Member States in ensuring non-recognition of the illegal situation created by the establishment of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), we call on them to support a public and regularly updated database and to actively cooperate in bringing companies under their jurisdiction in line with international humanitarian law and their human rights responsibilities."

"On 30 December, Badil published its third report on issues related to corporate responsibility in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, focusing on 'EU-Israel Trade: Promoting International Law Violations'."

Editor's note: The word "Badil" on the UNISPAL website is a direct link to the following:
"The BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights announces the release of EU-Israel Trade: Promoting International Law Violations...[It] concludes that EU's trade with Israeli colonies is illegal... [T]he report also explores the lawfulness of EU trade with Israel proper..."

"Pax Christi International wrote to the Vatican, calling on the Catholic Church to discuss possible action on the basis of the Open Letter of 12 June sent by The National Coalition of Christian Organizations in Palestine to the World Council of Churches."

Editor's note: The words "The National Coalition of Christian Organizations in Palestine" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"We ask that you speak in support of economic measures that pressure Israel to stop the occupation and go further to support sport, cultural and academic measures against Israel until it complies with international law and UN resolutions urging the ending of its occupation, Apartheid and discriminations, and accepts refugees to return to their home land and properties. This is our last peaceful resort. In response to Israel's war on BDS, we ask that you intensify that measures."

"On 13 September, Human Rights Watch released a report "Israeli Banks Supporting Settlements", challenging arguments by Israeli banks that domestic law obliges them to provide services that help support settlements, and calling on them to cease settlement-related activities."

Editor's note: The words "Human Rights Watch" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"[B]usinesses have a responsibility to cease doing businesses in or with Israeli settlements, including locating or carrying out activities inside settlements; financing, administering, or otherwise supporting settlements or settlement-related activities and infrastructure; and contracting to purchase settlement-manufactured goods or produce... Israeli banks should cease their settlement-related activities... These institutional investors should ensure that their business relationships are free from settlement-related products or investments."

"In a letter dated 18 August, the Association of Academics for the Respect of International Law in Palestine called on colleagues to cancel their participation in the upcoming congress of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS), scheduled to take place in Jerusalem from 10 to 14 September."

Editor's note: The words "The Association of Academics for the Respect of International Law in Palestine" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"[W]e write to urge you to cancel your participation in the forthcoming congress in Jerusalem of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS), scheduled for 10-14 September... thousands of academics and many academic associations have endorsed the call by Palestinian academics and civil society at large for an institutional academic boycott of Israel..."

"On 9 June, Al-Haq and other Palestinian human rights organizations issued a joint statement calling on the international community to act to end the occupation."

Editor's note: The words "Al-Haq" on the UNISPAL website are a direct link to the following:
"Our organizations call upon third states to act to end the occupation and hold Israel accountable, by:... Establishing reporting mechanisms for businesses domiciled within their territory that are ... contributing to or profiting from Israel's occupation of Palestinian land or Israel's violations of the human rights of the Palestinian people;... Ending all trade in weapons with Israel through a two-way arms embargos;..."

"The Israel-Palestine NGO Working Group at the UN hosted Omar Barghouti (BDS Movement) on 3 December 2014 to discuss the recent achievements of the BDS movement. The video is available here."

Editor's note: The word "here" on the UNISPAL website is a direct link to the following:

[Video Description] "December 1, 2014. Omar Barghouti articulates recent achievements in the BDS movement. Presented at the Church of the United Nations in New York City. Hosted by Doug Hostetter, Director of the UN Mennonite Central Committed."

"The BDS Movement delivered on 9 October 2014 a petition signed by over 60,000 people, including Nobel Laureates, artists and public intellectuals, to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calling on the UN and Governments around the world to take immediate steps to implement a comprehensive and legally binding military embargo on Israel."

Editor's note: The words "BDS Movement" on the UNISPAL website is a direct link to the following:

"The broad consensus among Palestinian civil society about the need for a broad and sustained Campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) resulted in the Palestinian Call for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel that was launched in July 2005 with the initial endorsement of over 170 Palestinian organizations."

"The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation is organizing its Annual National Organizers Conference in San Diego (CA) entitled The Mainstreaming of BDS and Continuing Struggle for Palestinian Rights on 19-21 September 2014."

"The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) published on 21 August 2014 an audio interview with Abir Copty (Free University of Berlin, former city council member in Nazareth) on Palestine, feminism and the BDS movement."

Editor's note: The words "audio interview" on the UNISPAL website is a direct link to the following:

"In the interview, Abir talks about the ongoing situation in Gaza from a feminist perspective and about the importance of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement."

"CAABU is inviting its supporters to write to the UK Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary as well as MPs to demand a ceasefire on Gaza, the lifting of the Gaza-blockade, an independent international investigation on the current hostilities, a ban on Israeli settlements trade and a full arms embargo on Israel.
...
The Palestinian BDS Movement is calling for a military embargo on Israel and issued a petition entitled Stop Arming Israel."

Editor's note: The word "write" on the UNISPAL website is a direct link to the following:

"Over the next 12 months, we will build on our existing work by expanding our campaign on banning settlement trade as part of a zero tolerance policy, forcing settlers to apply for visas to enter the UK and ending the blockade of Gaza."

"The Israel/Palestine Mission Network (IPMN) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) announced on 20 June 2014 that the plenary of the 221st General Assembly has voted 310 to 303 to divest from three US companies that profit from Israel's military occupation of Palestinian land.
...
We Divest Campaign is calling for a National Week of Actions on 6-13 July 2014 to celebrate BDS victories. The campaign will also host a Summer BDS Camp 10-14 August in North Carolina. Click here for more information.

A coalition of NGOs including Jewish Voice For Peace and Women in Black - Union Square is organizing an event on 7 July 2014 in New York to mark the 9th anniversary of the 2005 Palestinian call for BDS."

Editor's Note: The word "divest" (first paragraph) on the UNISPAL website is a direct link to the following:

"The Israel/Palestine Mission Network (IPMN) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is pleased to announce that the plenary of the 221st General Assembly has voted 310 to 303 to divest from three US companies that profit from Israel's military occupation of Palestinian lands.

"After a decade of corporate engagement with Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard, and Motorola Solutions, these companies have failed to modify their behavior and continue to profit from Israeli human rights abuses and non-peaceful pursuits," said IPMN member Rev. Dr. Walt Davis, Professor Emeritus, San Francisco Theological Seminary."

"The Presbyterian Church (USA) will decide at its biennial General Assembly held in Detroit on 14-21 June 2014 whether or not to stop investing in Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions and Hewlett-Packard, 3 companies that profit from the Israeli occupation. Interfaith Partners in Action launched a petition to support divestment and the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation is mobilizing its supporters to assist its allies at the Presbyterian Church."

" The Voice of Palestine presented on 3 April 2014 a new interview with Tyler Levitan, Campaign Coordinator for Independent Jewish Voices - IJV Canada, who talks about about IJV's Expose the Jewish National Fund JNF campaign, their new postcard initiative, and their support for the BDS movement."

Editor's note: The word "interview" on the UNISPAL website is a direct link to the following:

"This week Voice of Palestine interviews Tyler Levitan, campaign coordinator for Independent Jewish Voices, Canada. We talk with him about IJV's 'Expose the Jewish National Fund JNF' campaign, their new postcard initiative, and their support for the BDS movement."

"The Voice of Palestine presented on 19 March 2014 a new interview with Iymen Chehade, an instructor at Columbia College in Chicago, on the cancelation of his course on the history of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict at Columbia College and the resolution passed by the American Studies Association in support of the BDS movement."

Editor's note: The word "interview" on the UNISPAL website is a direct link to the following:

"We talk with him about his course at Columbia College, why it was cancelled, and the role of the Zionist lobby in suppressing the Palestinian narrative. We also discuss the recent resolution passed by the American Studies Association supporting the call for BDS and the reaction to it."

"Mairead Maguire (1976 Nobel Peace Prize) said on 8 March 2014 that she would support the BDS movement until the Palestinian right to self-determination is recognized by Israel."

"The BDS Movement issued a statement on 21 January 2014 under the title UN Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People begins with boycott success. The coalition also updated on 10 January 2014 its round-up of 2013 BDS successes.
...
Adalah-NY – The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel launched on 14 January 2014 a petition to show solidarity with the American Studies Association's decision to endorse academic boycott against Israeli academic institutions.
...
Code Pink - Women For Peace updated the actions of its Boycott SodaStream! initiative which now features a letter campaign asking Scarlett Johansson to end her PR contract with SodaStream, a factory operating in the Israeli settlement of 'Ma'ale Adumim'."

"The American Studies Association's national council on 15 December 2013 voted for an academic boycott of Israeli institutions.
...
The Native American and Indigenous Studies Association's council declared on 15 December 2013 its support for the boycott of Israeli academic institutions.
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The Voice of Palestine presented on 19 December 2013 a new interview with Ramah Kudaimi, Membership and Outreach Coordinator for the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, about the US Campaign's objectives, their BDS work and the Boycott SodaStream campaign."

"Adalah-NY, Jewish Voice for Peace – NY, and Park Slope Food Coop Members for BDS are organizing a musical protest against SodaStream on 7 December 2013."
...
The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation is calling on supporters to help in their 2013 Boycott SodaStream Days of Action. Demonstrations against SodaStream (see list of activities here) are being planned to focus on Target retail stores and will be held from 2 December to 10 December 2013. As well, the Campaign launched a petition on 26 November 2013 to ask Bartell Drugs in Seattle to stop selling SodaStream products."

Editor's note: The word "petition" on the UNISPAL website is a direct link to the following:

"We would like to take the international campaign to a local Seattle target. Bartell Drugs still sells SodaStream... With enough local pressure, Bartell would be able to decide at the local level to stop selling SodaStream."

"Le Comité pour une Paix Juste au Proche-Orient is organizing several different artistic events and conferences throughout the month of November 2013, and held a special conference-debate Should we Boycott Israel? with Michael Deas (European Coordinator for the National Committee for the Palestinian BDS Campaign against Israeli Policies) on 8 November 2013 in Luxembourg.
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Sacramento BDS is calling on its supporters to sign a petition asking stores in the US not to buy or sell SodaStream products, which are made in an Israeli settlement."

Editor's note: The word "petition" on the UNISPAL website is a direct link to the following:

"Please support international law and human rights, don't buy and don't sell SodaStream or any other products made in illegal Israeli settlements."

"The American Friends Service Committee released on 28 October 2013 a Monster Mash Remix - Boycott SodaStream song. You can listen to the performance here.

Boycott Israeli Apartheid Campaign is organizing a protest in front of London Drugs in Vancouver on 3 November 2013 to ask the store to stop selling SodaStream products. This demonstration is part of the Canada-wide SodaStream boycott campaign of the Canadian Boycott Coalition."