Israel/Palestine

Mosby

(16,319 posts) Fri Feb 14, 2014, 08:15 PM Feb 2014

Ten reasons why the BDS movement is immoral and hinders peace

1. The BDS movement immorally imposes the entire blame for the continuing Israeli occupation and settlement policy on the Israelis. It refuses to acknowledge the historical reality that on at least three occasions, Israel offered to end the occupation and on all three occasions, the Palestinian leadership, supported by its people, refused to accept these offers. In 1967, I played a small role in drafting UN Security Council Resolution 242 that set out the formula for ending the occupation in exchange for recognition of Israel's right to exist in peace. Israel accepted that Resolution, while the Palestinians, along with all the Arab nations, gathered in Khartoum and issued their three famous "nos:" No peace, no negotiation, no recognition. There were no efforts to boycott, sanction or divest from these Arab naysayers. In 2000-2001, Israel's liberal Prime Minister Ehud Barak, along with American President Bill Clinton, offered the Palestinians statehood, and the end of the occupation. Yasser Arafat rejected this offer—a rejection that many Arab leaders considered a crime against the Palestinian people. In 2007, Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert offered the Palestinians an even better deal, an offer to which they failed to respond. There were no BDS threats against those who rejected Israel's peace offers. Now there are ongoing peace negotiations in which both parties are making offers and imposing conditions. Under these circumstances, it is immoral to impose blame only on Israel and to direct a BDS movement only against the nation state of the Jewish people, that has thrice offered to end the occupation in exchange for peace.

http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4171/bds-immoral

11 replies

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Ten reasons why the BDS movement is immoral and hinders peace (Original Post) Mosby Feb 2014 OP

Oh, gods. The responsibility is on the Israelis, as is the failure of the peace process. PDJane Feb 2014 #1

Oh good, the Gatestone Institute is chiming in on the subject of morality Scootaloo Feb 2014 #2

Odd how Alan does not mention that it is Kerry, representing the US and includes the EU who are Jefferson23 Feb 2014 #3

Here are some steps that Israel can take to show they Jake Stern Feb 2014 #4

I seriously suggest that ... Israeli Feb 2014 #5

I truly wish that Israel gets out in front of this and decides that it is in its best interests R. Daneel Olivaw Feb 2014 #8

Israeli apartheid is immoral. Israeli illegal settlements are immoral. R. Daneel Olivaw Feb 2014 #6

Oh good. bravenak Feb 2014 #7

Goldberg on Kerry Plan: Jefferson23 Feb 2014 #9

Interesting, thanks. Mosby Feb 2014 #10

You're welcome. n/t Jefferson23 Feb 2014 #11

PDJane

(10,103 posts)

1. Oh, gods. The responsibility is on the Israelis, as is the failure of the peace process.

Reply to Mosby (Original post)

Fri Feb 14, 2014, 08:21 PM

Feb 2014

Israel doesn't want peace.

Scootaloo

(25,699 posts)

2. Oh good, the Gatestone Institute is chiming in on the subject of morality

Reply to Mosby (Original post)

Fri Feb 14, 2014, 08:36 PM

Feb 2014

Maybe the Vanguard News Network will give us a piece about racial tolerance next.

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)

3. Odd how Alan does not mention that it is Kerry, representing the US and includes the EU who are

Reply to Mosby (Original post)

Fri Feb 14, 2014, 09:27 PM

Feb 2014

threatening Bibi with what will happen ( BDS ) if he does not agree to the Kerry Plan.

The irony is rich.

Jake Stern

(3,145 posts)

4. Here are some steps that Israel can take to show they

Reply to Mosby (Original post)

Fri Feb 14, 2014, 11:00 PM

Feb 2014

truly want to end the occupation:

- They agree to withdraw to the 1967 boundaries without exception (incl. the Jordan Valley)

- They dismantle ALL settlements and remove all settlers.

- They agree to allow UN/NATO to bring troops in to patrol Palestine.

- Assist Palestine in developing a viable security force.

- Agree to cede at least some portion of East Jerusalem for use as the capital of Palestine.

- Work on an travel agreement to allow pilgrims for the various faiths to enter their holy sights such as a joint pilgrimage visa between Israel and Palestine.

"Ending the occupation" doesn't mean "We need to keep two-thirds of the West Bank, you know for security purposes".

Israeli

(4,151 posts)

5. I seriously suggest that ...

Reply to Mosby (Original post)

Sat Feb 15, 2014, 05:44 AM

Feb 2014

...... you read this Mosby :

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4487794,00.html

These days, when Yaakov Berg tries to sell his award-winning line of Psagot boutique wines, he encounters obstacles from every direction. As a Jewish vintner in a West Bank settlement, his product is increasingly considered off-limits.

"Not just overseas, also in Tel Aviv," says Berg, 37. "So we have big problems. Actually, it's almost impossible to sell in (Tel Aviv) restaurants."

With Israel mired in a struggle to combat growing calls in Europe to boycott Israeli products and businesses with ties to the controversial settlements, a quieter and more informal campaign is subtly emerging at home among Israelis themselves.

Israelis who may have long supported peace but also considered the settlements no big deal are starting to ask why Israel continues building there in the face of what looks like a rare global consensus against them verging on outrage.

"As an Israeli, I oppose a regime in the West Bank that I find illegitimate and I don't want any part of it so I make an effort not to buy those products," said Yaron Racah, a 38-year-old high-tech worker from the Tel Aviv area. "If I can't help stop it, at least I can do no more harm by taking an active part in something I don't believe in."

Zehava Galon, head of the dovish opposition Meretz Party, said that while she opposes international boycott efforts against Israel as a whole, she refrains from consuming settler products because there must be a "price to the occupation."

"It is unacceptable. Whoever thought they could deceive the entire world succeeded for a few years but that over," she said.

It wasn't just the fear of alienating clients that likely deterred them from speaking but also a 2011 law in Israel that could expose them to lawsuits if a boycott became official. The law did not make a boycott call a criminal offense, but rather a civil issue that could trigger financial compensation. There is no actual precedent of this happening yet.

Among consumers, feelings are mixed.

"We need to show that there are people here that disagree with the settlements, (that) not everybody thinks this is OK," said Tel Aviv resident Chai Hazen. "If a boycott is the way to do it ... that's what we will do."

The times they are a changing Mosby .....and its about time to .

R. Daneel Olivaw

(12,606 posts)

8. I truly wish that Israel gets out in front of this and decides that it is in its best interests

Reply to Israeli (Reply #5)

Sat Feb 15, 2014, 04:48 PM

Feb 2014

to dismantle the settlements and bring their citizens home. I can't say that it won't come without a lot of pain, but the settlements should never have been allowed in the first place.

I also believe that the Palestinians should be allowed to form their own state, but the security of that state, in the short-long term, should be supervised by the UN.

Times are a changing, and we can bring about peace and stability with a modicum of common sense.

R. Daneel Olivaw

(12,606 posts)

6. Israeli apartheid is immoral. Israeli illegal settlements are immoral.

Reply to Mosby (Original post)

Sat Feb 15, 2014, 09:42 AM

Feb 2014

Last edited Sat Feb 15, 2014, 04:40 PM - Edit history (1)

Israeli destruction of the Palestinians is immoral.

Until Israel, and it apologistas figure that out, then they should be spanked daily.

BDS.

On edit: There would be no need for a movement like BDS if Israel wasn't hosting their citizens in lands not belonging to them.

bravenak

(34,648 posts)

7. Oh good.

Reply to Mosby (Original post)

Sat Feb 15, 2014, 02:17 PM

Feb 2014

It's working.

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)

9. Goldberg on Kerry Plan:

Reply to Mosby (Original post)

Sun Feb 16, 2014, 02:17 PM

Feb 2014

snip* Kerry’s strategy in the Middle East is quite clever; he is systematically addressing every worry articulated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an effort to neutralize Israeli anxiety. But I think that Kerry has been making one mistake in his approach to these negotiations: His need to publicly invoke -- repeatedly -- the specter of an international campaign to boycott Israel is not helping advance his cause.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-06/kerry-s-israel-boycott-talk-will-backfire.html

Mosby

(16,319 posts)

10. Interesting, thanks.

Reply to Jefferson23 (Reply #9)

Sun Feb 16, 2014, 02:29 PM

Feb 2014

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)

11. You're welcome. n/t

Reply to Mosby (Reply #10)

Sun Feb 16, 2014, 08:51 PM

Feb 2014

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