ISRAEL: Why some Jews support boycott
Re: “Boycott drive strengthens, raising alarm in Israel” (TNT, 7-12).
I am a member of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) which was cited in the article as supportive of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement that aims to move Israel into compliance with international and human rights law.
JVP, which is the fastest-growing Jewish organization in America, takes its BDS stand in support of Palestinian human rights and Jewish values. After decades of futile “negotiations” (which were like asking a powerless child to “negotiate” with an adult abuser), JVP recognized that nothing short of BDS could bring a nonviolent end to Israel’s 48 years of illegal and often brutal occupation of Palestinian land and lives.
Israel’s subjugation of Palestinians has hurt Israelis, too. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin last year characterized Israel as “a sick society in need of treatment” (as reported in the Jerusalem Post). An Israeli soldiers group, Breaking the Silence, recently published a report from Israel’s assault on Gaza last summer citing instructions to do things in Gaza that intentionally caused violence against civilians.
Boycott and divestment are important tools for civil society to stop nations from committing crimes against humanity when governments fail to do so. Join us in helping to bring justice and equal rights to Palestinians through BDS, and in making “never again” a protection for all people.
This story was originally published July 15, 2015 at 3:54 PM with the headline "ISRAEL: Why some Jews support boycott."