The Corruption of BDS by the Radical Left

Joel Silver discusses the naked anti-semitism behind the left's calls for a boycott of the Jewish State:

Israel! USA! How many kids have you killed today!        

I have always been one to give credit where it's due, my disdain for the recipient notwithstanding. And I must admit that I have long-admired the capacity of radical Marxists to churn out catchy little chants, such as the nugget above. As to the urban myth that Marxist meetings may only proceed while the speakers remain in perfect rhythm, I cannot comment, though it would go some way to explaining the survival of such movements on the social peripheries. But I digress.

Australia in 2011 has seen a number of increasingly public events under the banner of the international Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. BDS is a "grassroots" campaign, whose raison d'etre is to facilitate an international economic boycott of the Jewish State. The public argument of BDS is that, to advance the Palestinian cause, consumers should avoid patronage of all companies who profit from Israel's "occupation". A list prepared by Sydney's Marrickville Council (for its shelved boycott) included large multinational entities such as Chevrolet, Veolia and Hewlett-Packard (though this would impede the printing of radical flyers). That's the idea, at least. In practice, Australian BDS has left the multinationals alone, opting to single out Israeli companies trading in Australia, in particular, Jericho Cosmetics (now Black Pearl) and the Max Brenner chain of coffee lounges. And though BDS is meant to be passive, its campaigning – consisting of mobs gathering outside the outlets of Israeli businesses – relate little to an economic boycott. The mobs chant and rave anti-Israeli slogans, their large ranks too intimidating for any consumer wishing to enter the stores, or indeed, other businesses that are simply nearby. Police are called, and on several occasions, are set upon by the mob after the protestors refuse to move on.

The worse aspect of BDS is that, while they allege to support Palestinian rights, their hatred of the State of Israel is barely concealed. A recital of some of the protestors' chants is quite illustrative–

From the River to the Sea,Palestine will be Free!

This chant is based upon a threat made by Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser before the 1967 Six Day War to ‘drive the Jews into the sea’. The chant was not a call for Palestinian statehood then, nor has it become so. The "River" is the Jordan River, separating Jordan and the West Bank, while the "Sea" is the Mediterranean Sea, upon which Israel and the Gaza Strip have shorelines. The Palestine this chant calls for is one that exists not in addition to, but in place of the State of Israel. That is by no means a peaceful sentiment. That is, however, only the basic form of the chant, to which the protestors often attach a second verse–

Out Out, Israel Out!

(Out Out, Israel Out!)

Free Free, Palestine!

(Free Free, Palestine!)

If their sentiment were unclear, then the combination should resolve any doubts. The proverbial "Israel" is not the State, but the Jews, whose mere presence in the Middle East, the chant suggests, can have no legitimacy, because Jews are a foreign entity. This has disturbing parallels to the old "Yellow Peril", the Chinese hoards who once threatened to swamp White Australia. Though care is taken to avoid the word "Jew", the reality remains: the chant is calling for a Palestine free of Jews and the Jewish State. Protesting Israel's actions is one matter, but denying her right to exist is quite another, having very little to do with the freedom of Palestinians.

Then there is the continued apartheid motif. Apartheid in South Africa involved systematic discrimination against blacks citizens, who held less rights than their white peers, despite lived alongside one another. Eventually, Pretoria created the "homelands", small pockets of land to which blacks were domiciled, which were then excised from Pretoria's jurisdiction. By contrast, the Palestinian Territories have never been part of the State of Israel, nor will they under a two-state solution (any territorial swaps for settlements aside). Moreover, Territorial Palestinians – as opposed to Israeli Arabs who identify as Palestinian – have never been lived in Israel proper, nor been its citizens. The West Bank was in-fact Jordanian territory until 1988, when King Hussein ceded any claim to the PLO. Had Resolution 181 not called for separate Jewish and Arab States, but a single state, then the apartheid argument might have had currency. But the maintenance of Israel as a secular democracy with a Jewish majority is not apartheid. It recognises the right of the Jewish people to self-determination, while granting the same rights to non-Jewish citizens. There are, unfortunately, real examples of systemic discrimination against Palestinian elsewhere in the Middle East. Many Palestinians in the Arab world, despite having lived there for over 60 years, remain in refugee camps, and are denied citizenship. In Lebanon, Palestinians have been barred from attending public schools or owning property, and in Kuwait, 1991 saw almost half a million Palestinians expelled following the PLO's support for Iraq in the Gulf War.

Though BDS may be a new movement, the sentiment it expresses and the tactics it employs are incredibly well worn, having long been used to fight against Israel under the guise of being pro-Palestinian. It seems that, for every disruption they cause, the group provides ever more evidence that they are not the moderates they say they are. And this begs the question: who exactly is behind the Australian BDS? The answer, in my view, is blatantly obvious. The behaviour of this new group, and their enthusiastic disdain for the State of Israel, is identical to that of the radical Left. In effect, BDS has become a front for these old radicals, one of several adventurous initiatives undertaken in 2011, seemingly to rejuvenate their brand, which is being increasingly starved of confrontation. Allow me to illustrate through a recent incident at the University of Melbourne.

The Melbourne University Jewish Students Society (MUJSS) had scheduled its annual Israeli Independence Day celebrations for 10 May. Though focused on Israel, many participants gather simply to celebrate the symbolic rebirth of an independent Jewish nation, the atmosphere being festive, rather than political. The event was scheduled for disruption, however, by a collection of radical students (largely from off-campus), whose "Rally against Zionists' Apartheid Celebration" was intended to prevent the Jewish celebrations. This in itself was a paradigm shift for the radicals, who had never (at least in recent times) confronted campus Jews at their own events. This taking of initiative is a likely consequence of Jewish students failing to take what might called the radicals' confrontational "bait", namely, events such as Palestine Solidarity Week seen encouraging an anti-Israel sentiment.

 

With the exception of a MUJSS executive member who was attacked with wire cutters, the rally caused minimal disruption. As the event was not authorised by the University or Student Union, the roughly 30 protestors were met by a contingent of Victoria Police (a very rare instance on-campus), who prevented the group from approaching their Jewish targets. The radicals proceeded to rally from afar, which largely involved an hour of anti-Israel chanting, though they eventually came into closer contact (albeit separated by the South Lawn moat). These sentiments were no different from the participants in Australian BDS. It was also a rare occurrence of a Jewish event being explicitly targeted. This element of anti-Semitism – for which use of the word "Jew" is not a prerequisite – evidently did not bother the radicals.

The similarities between these radical Leftists and the BDS movement suggest the independence of the latter has been compromised. The actual notion of BDS simply should not arouse the strong anti-Israel feelings Australian BDS is arousing. These are sentiments which are motivated by war, for example, Lebanon (2006) or Operation Cast Lead (2008-09), not pacifism. Australian BDS, however, is not about pacifism. The movement has been turned into a vent for the radical Left's anti-Israel sentiment, allowing them to rally both their own members, and support from the peripheries of Australian society, from individuals simply looking for an excuse to delegitimise the State of Israel. And by so attacking the Jewish State, the movement displays a clear streak of anti-Semitism. In the year when the United Nations General Assembly will consider recognition of a State of Palestine, the approach of BDS simply makes no sense. Any drover's dog would be concerned by this discord.

Criticising Israel is one thing, but challenging her right to exist is quite another. And while there is a distinction between criticising Israel and anti-Semitism, it would be a furphy to suggest that Australian BDS illustrates it.

Joel Silver holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Melbourne. He is a past President of the Melbourne University Jewish Students Society and served as Political Affairs Director of the Australasian Union of Jewish Students in Victoria. He is current President of the Caulfield Young Liberals and member of the Victorian Young Liberal Executive. The views expressed are his own.

Comments

[Richo]

1.

Good article. It is amazing how many supposed 'educated' people support the BDS policy.

Is it just me but is there not a huge disconnent from condemning a foreign country and bullying and harassing business owners/workers (most of whom are probably not even Jewish) in a chocolate shop?

As A.Bolt has pointed out, they are eerrily similiar to protests against Jewish shop owners in Germany in the 1930s.

[Jonathan]

2.

Great article Joel!

[Dave]

3.

There is nothing Marxist about the BDS...if by Marxist you mean influenced by Marx's critique of political economy, not just that some group uses the label

[Marksouth]

4.

I wonder how long before some other cause they don't understand catches their attention, and they forget all about Israel. That's usually the way the protest movement operates.

[oldskool]

5.

Deuteronomy Chapter 34; verse 4

...This is the land which i swear unto Abraham, unto Issac and unto Jacob saying i will give it unto thy seed....

I believe the Jews would be the "seed"

Protest as you will but the land of Israel belongs to the Jews - not my opinion but the will of God

[Kol Ha'Kavod]

6.

Joel, great article. Very well articulated. However, I don't belive you were ever elected as President of MUJSS.

[Joel]

7.

"elected", in the sense of confirmed at an AGM without contest, no, that's true. elected Presidents, however, are known to resign.

[Joel Silver]

8.

"elected", in the sense of confirmed at an AGM without contest, no, that's true. elected Presidents, however, are known to resign.

I continue on the MUJSS executive in the role of Immediate Past President.

[SignedIn]

9.

Sadly there are many falsehoods in this article:

"A list prepared by Sydney's Marrickville Council .."
Actually Marrickville Council based it's list on the BDS campaign list.

"In practice, Australian BDS has left the multinationals alone, opting to single out Israeli companies trading in Australia,..."
Max Brenner is part of a multinational company called Strauss Group.

"Police are called, and on several occasions, are set upon by the mob... "

Having seen many videos of these protests .. I have seen no evidence of protesters attacking police.
If anything police have targeted the leadership of the groups protesting loudly but peacefully... and only then have protesters reacted to try and protect their colleagues.

[Joel Silver]

10.

If I might respond:

1) I didn't suggest that Marrickville started up the BDS ideal, only that they had this list.

2) Read the preceding sentence.

3) You're very much entitled to your interpretation of the footage. The fact is that a protest is not 'peaceful' when protestors refuse to move along after being told to do so by police.

[SignedIn]

11.

Reponding to 2.)
"That's the idea, at least."
I fail to see how the preceding sentence corrects your falsehood.

"In practice, Australian BDS has left the multinationals alone, opting to single out Israeli companies trading in Australia, in particular, Jericho Cosmetics (now Black Pearl) and the Max Brenner chain of coffee lounges."

Again .. the Max Brenner chain is part of the Strauss Group. It is a multinational company.
(I really shouldn't point out it is a chain chocolate stores .. not coffee stores.)

3.) Of course a protest can remain peaceful .. even after being told to move along. It might be in breach of the request, but still be peaceful. Don't write crap!

If you can show me any footage where the protesters initiate violence I would be happy to see it.

The lies being told to demonise those who support the BDS are telling.

It is also interesting to see anti-BDS protests welcoming members of extreme groups such as the ADL and APDM.

[Joel Silver]

12.

2) my apologies, two preceding sentences beforehand: "large multinational entities such as Chevrolet, Veolia and Hewlett-Packard (though this would impede the printing of radical flyers)". Multinational in this sense are those based outside of Israel.

3) evidently I have to be a bit more explicit for you. it's not peaceful when the crowd get aggressive towards the police after being told to move along. the law gives the police that right, and those who refuse to do follow directions are in breach.

you only have to attend one of these BDS sit-ins to see the facts; BDS is a recruitment front for the radical Left. it is about delegitimising the State of Israel, not aiding the Palestinian cause. when you've got a mob chanting that there is "blood in your [Max Brenner's] hot chocolate", it's pretty hard to argue that you've got rational people involved, cf those who are just plain ignorant. if glasses are uncomfortable to wear, that's fine, but remember their absence can have a real impact on your perspective.

having been at the Melbourne anti-BDS rally of 4 September, I can categorically state there was no involvement by members of the ADL and APDM. I can confirm that celebrity Tim Ferguson was in attendance, though it's unclear what side he was on.

[SignedIn]

13.

"it's not peaceful when the crowd get aggressive towards the police after being told to move along."

Well again .. having seen the footage of the protests .. the protesters are not at all violent... until the police target the leadership... and then protesters only react to protect their colleagues . not attacking police.

I would suggest you do some research before throwing around misinformation.

Tell you what ... I'll be nice and show you the truth.
Peaceful protests .. and then you can see the police target one by one the leaders of the protest.

"Violent arrests at peaceful pro-palestine protest Melbourne"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2yo1t1ChHc

The peace symbol offered before being arrested was obviously not taken into account by the police.

"Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid BDS Melbourne Victoria - July 1, 2011 (Video 01)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTrX8sxZv6c

"Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid BDS Melbourne Victoria - July 1, 2011 (Video 02)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZrCloJzNZw

"blood in your [Max Brenner's] hot chocolate", is distrasteful .. but they would argue that supporting an Israeli army unit accused of atrocities is distasteful.
http://www.sa.org.au/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=7031%3Awhy-palestine-protests-target-max-brenner&Itemid=393

Why would the Strauss Group remove the section of support from their website?
http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=195963

You probably won't agree .. but it's worthwhile reading why they protest.

I saw a picture with Tim Ferguson at the Melbourne rally .. and he did appear to be a spectator rather than siding with either side.
I've been a Tim Ferguson fan for some time. He has been dealing with MS for many years, but he looked good in the photos.