Israel’s own version of BDS
JVL Introduction
Hugh Lanning, long term advocate for justice for Palestinians writes this important piece summarising a range of Israeli tactics to delegitimise the pro Palestinian movement with its own BDS movement – Ban, Demonise and Subvert. We must ask why so many governments – and other institutions – are willing to go along with this – even in the midst of one of the most brutal attacks on civilians with no place to go to escape the bombs. What are the common interests even when c. 70% of the people in the UK (and in most countries) want a ceasefire – and now!
Israel is doing what States will always do and for as long as they are allowed to – finding a way to justify what they and to delegitimise criticism of its actions. For Israel, of course, the main delegitimisation tool is to allege antisemitism. “In this looking-glass world, everything becomes anti-semitic. Notwithstanding the reports by Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, and B’Tselem, mentioning Israel and apartheid in the same sentence is “anti-semitic”. The ICJ is, of course, anti-semitic, having the temerity to suggest that Israel has a plausible case to answer on the crime of genocide.”
LL
This article was originally published by Morning Star on Thu 22 Feb 2024. Read the original here.
Ban, demonise, subvert: Israel’s ‘second front’ strategy
We can never overestimate the power of Israeli think tanks to orchestrate campaigns anywhere in the world to discredit critics, manipulate media and stifle opposition – eve during the era of live-streamed genocide.
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Fantastic piece! It helps to explain how Israel’s atrocities can horrify most of the world and indeed two-thirds or more of US and Britain’s population, but nonetheless hold the rock-solid allegiance of policy-affirming elites in these nations. Biden may decry “indiscriminate bombing” and call Israel’s conduct in Gaza “over the top,” but US support on UN Security Council and flow of weapons show true US intentions.
Gary Lubner is a major Labour Party donor after his family became wealthy by sanction-busting in apartheid South Africa. His son Jack having emergd from Israeli embassy funded Union of Jewish Students is now heading a campaign against BDS. Trevor Chinn who funded Strarmer’s leadership campaign established BICOM and off-shoot, We Believe in Israel. Need one say more about the current Labour Party and links to dark forces
Western politicians are subject to bribes and blackmail to persuade them, or reward them. It’s more transparent in US which is a more important target. See eg https://palestine.beehiiv.com/p/aipac-making-us-congress-progenocide