I was very glad to see Mr. Charles Krauthammer’s (Eagle Editorial, April 5) endorsement of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction movement now gaining worldwide momentum on behalf of Palestinian rights. To quote: “Financial sanctions are precisely the kind of pressure that can support diplomacy.” I may be taking his words out of context but he states the perfect rationale for the BDS campaign which works even to the benefit of Israel as its leadership takes some dangerous and lethal steps leading to the isolation of Israel and tragic violations of international and Israeli law used to continue the oppression of the Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. BDS is a non-violent, economic strategy aimed at changing unjust and illegal practices especially focused on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. BDS originated with Palestinian civil society groups in 2005 and is fully described and supported by Palestinian Christians in the Kairos Palestine 2009 document. A variety of religious and secular groups have endorsed BDS: World Council of Churches, South African Council of Churches, United Church of Canada, conferences of the U.S. United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), Deutsche Bank, Danske Bank, Heineken Breweries, and Jewish groups such as Americans for Peace Now, Jewish Voice for Peace and Rabbis for Human Rights. The BDS campaign is putting pressure on Israel so it recognizes the worldwide support for Palestinian rights. It is not an attempt to destroy Israel. It is a movement that will, as Mr. Krauthammer writes: “…support diplomacy” and result in human and legal rights restored to the Palestinians.
END THE OCCUPATION!!