"BDS" refers to anti-Israel movement that aims to get
countries, businesses and even churches to Boycott, Divest and Sanction
Israel and Israeli Jewish businesses in Judea and Samaria (the West
Bank) for its alleged abuses of Palestinians.
(Israel)—[CBN News] What's been billed as the largest anti-BDS conference ever was held Tuesday at the United Nations. (Photo via Ambassador Danon/via Twitter)
"BDS" refers to anti-Israel movement that aims to get countries,
businesses and even churches to Boycott, Divest and Sanction Israel and
Israeli Jewish businesses in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) for its
alleged abuses of Palestinians.
More than 2,000 people attended the event in the General Assembly
hall, which included Jewish community leaders, students, diplomats,
pro-Israel Christians and legal experts.
The day's activities began with Israel's national anthem, Hatikva and
remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu via
video-conferencing.
Organized by Israel's delegation to the United Nations, with the help
of pro-Israel groups from around the world, the one-day conference
under the banner, "Building Bridges, Not Boycotts," was hailed a
success.
Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon called on participants to stand
with Israel in its fight against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
movement, calling unity "the most effective weapon" and saying it's
nothing more than "modern anti-Semitism." It's an ongoing battle, he
said, that Israel and its supporters would continue to fight.
"From this lectern in the parliament of nations, we must
continue to work—we must change the reality on campuses, in courthouses,
and here at the U.N.," Danon said. "We will not let the forces of hate to demonize Israel. Together, we will overcome the BDS movement."
Ron Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, said he understands the "power" of BDS.
"It's a political movement that makes you think you are standing
against tyranny, especially when you are joined by celebrities, rock
stars or your favorite professors, but I wonder if all those people who
support BDS have the slightest understanding of what this movement
really means. These activists are calling for the destruction of the
State of Israel, make no mistake," Lauder said.
"Don't be mistaken—the BDS movement doesn't support the
Palestinian people. This campaign is intended to de-legitimize Israel—it
is an effort to deny the Jewish people the right of self-determination," he said.
Israeli Supreme Court Vice President and Justice Elyakim Rubinstein
laid a Biblical foundation for the modern-day anti-Israel movement.
"As we read every year in the Passover Haggadah during the
Passover meal, 'in every generation they rise up against us,'"
Rubinstein said. "The BDS movement is a part of those who wish to
destroy us. Yet their mission will not be fulfilled. Just as we overcame
the Arab boycott, so too will we overcome the BDS movement."
American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) chief counsel Jay Sekulow
led a workshop that focused on the legal aspects of boycotts and
attempts to delegitimize.
"The BDS [movement] uses 'lawfare.' They use the legal system to
delegitimize," Sekulow explained. "Well we are using the law to fight
them. The law is on our side," the Times of Israel reported.
BDS movements, he said, frequently violate non-discrimination laws
and university policies in the U.S. Sekulow cited a number of
universities where BDS was defeated in the courtroom.
One university student told the Times of Israel the conference did "a great job of showing what can be done to fight BDS beyond the campus."
Students also learned about how to counter "Israel Apartheid Week,"
which has become an annual event every spring on many U.S. campuses.
Israeli reggae star Matisyahu, who was banned and then reinstated
from performing at a music festival in Spain last year, sang his
anti-BDS song, "Jerusalem," to a delighted audience.
Meanwhile, P.A. representative to the U.N. Riyad Mansour pooh-poohed
the gathering as inconsequential, calling it "an admission" by Israeli
leaders of losing ground against the BDS movement on American campuses.
Mansour is likely well aware of the pro-Palestinian groups at U.S.
colleges and universities, which have succeeded to some extent in
turning student bodies against Israel.
Recent polls found one-third of Americans and 40 percent in the U.K. back a boycott of Israel.
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Source: www.breakingchristiannews.com/