Audience learns ABC’s OF ‘BDS’

“Don’t panic, but don’t be complacent” was the opening and closing advice given by John Haber, a national authority on the BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) movement. He was at the Dwares JCC on Feb. 25 at an event sponsored by StandWithUs/RI chapter and provided a thorough education regarding the history, strategy, the threat BDS poses and its successes and failures. Among the 60 people attending the session were Jewish community members and clergy as well as representatives of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), who have recently expressed genuine interest in working together with the StandWithUs/RI Chapter.

His lecture was preceded by a brief ceremony led by Regina Schilds, thanking Stefanie Feld, outgoing chair, for her leadership over the past year. Feld and her husband Harry are moving to California.  She received thanks, an engraved plaque and a specially decorated cake from the organization’s board.

Haber placed the roots of the BDS movement in the UN Durban I “conference” on racism in 2001 which turned out to be an all-out attack on Israel. It was here that the “Apartheid Strategy” – an attempt to make Israel into an international pariah as was done to South Africa under unlike circumstances – was born. And the tactic chosen to implement the strategy was BDS.

Since then, as Haber explained, the BDS movement has had its ups and downs. By and large, its victories have been relatively few. However, he pointed out that the ongoing danger is the impact it has in undermining political support for the State of Israel among Jews and non-Jews. Ironically, while attempting to get mainstream institutions to adopt BDS tactics, the movement will push its agenda persistently, regardless of collateral damage.  As an example, he said that the Presbyterian Church-USA, which the BDS movement has targeted, has weakened as a result to the point of near collapse.

In effect, he explained, BDS will drag the Middle East into the civic arena in places where it simply doesn’t belong. And while it is a frail movement with few victories – Haber labels them “losers” – there is an ongoing threat that the tactics could “metastasize” into the body politic. Thus his viewpoint: Don’t panic, but don’t be complacent.

As to the movement’s actual strength and effect, using charts, and graphs he suggested that the actual economic effect on Israel has been nil, and its adoption within the U.S. has also been practically zero. He said, while we see a great deal of propaganda about BDS on campuses, not one university has divested any investments whatsoever on the BDS blacklist. Further, when the American Studies Association passed a BDS resolution boycotting Israel, 250 college presidents condemned the action, and the association backed down. More than anything, he explained, the movement is propaganda and thrives on propaganda.

Haber concluded his talk with a repetition of the opening: “Don’t panic, but don’t be complacent.” A brief Q&A touched mainly on the possibility of stamping out the movement completely, which the speaker saw as unrealistic.

Stefanie Feld, of Providence, chair of StandWithUs/RI, said “this was another incredibly informative session we are privileged to bring to the Rhode Island pro-Israel community.”

StandWithUs/RI is part of an international, non-profit organization that believes  that education is the road to peace. StandWithUs is dedicated to informing the public about Israel and to combating the extremism and anti-Semitism that often distorts the issues. It believes that knowledge of the facts will correct common prejudices about the Arab-Israeli conflict and promote discussions and policies that can help promote peace in the region.  Based in Los Angeles, StandWithUs has 16 offices across the U.S., Canada,  Israel and in the UK. Information at standwithusri@gmail.com.

HOWARD BROWN, is a North Kingstown resident and StandWithUs/RI volunteer organizer.