Handbook on Israeli Apartheid: Boycott,
Divestment And Sanction
08 Jan 2012By Stephen Lendman
In July 2005, a coalition of 171 Palestinian Civil
Society organizations created the global BDS movement
- for "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against
Israel Until it Complies with International Law and
Universal Principles of Human Rights" for Occupied
Palestinians, Israeli Arabs, and Palestinian diaspora
refugees.
Since 1948, dozens of UN resolutions condemned
Israel's colonial occupation, decades of
discriminatory policies, illegal land seizures,
settlements, international law violations, and harsh
oppression. They called for remedial action.
Nothing so far worked. Palestine remains occupied. Its
people keep suffering. Their human rights are denied.
Gaza's suffocating under siege. Abuses this extreme
can't be tolerated.
In solidarity, people of conscience demand justice and
"call upon international civil society organizations
and (supporters everywhere) to impose broad boycotts
and implement divestment initiatives against Israel
similar to those applied to (apartheid) South Africa."
Pressure's needed for "embargoes and sanctions....for
the sake of justice and genuine peace."
Corporate Watch recently published a volume titled,
"Targeting Israeli Apartheid: A Boycott Divestment and
Sanctions Handbook."
Calling it a "guide many of us in the movement have
been waiting for," it "demystif(ies) and expose(s) the
daily reproduction of the occupation of Palestine."
Clear forensic evidence shows how colonization
continues. The guide lists "names, addresses, profit
margins, and zones of activity of the corporate web
that sustains this injustice."
Through understanding comes better ways to intervene.
Activists are given detailed information in nearly 400
pages. The material exposes the anti-Semitism canard.
Occupation, repression and exploitation have no
religion or ethnicity.
Decades of colonization continue because it's
profitable. The guide frames it as "an international
economic and cultural dynamic that we can identify in
our own countries, on our streets and in our own
homes."
Nonetheless, resistance offers hope and change. "(I)nformation
is action." Grassroots solidarity can end Israeli
apartheid, militarism, occupation and repression. BDS
activism unites global civil societies to do it
collectively. It explains:
"The key lesson learned from South Africa is that, in
order for world governments to end their complicity
with Israel's grave and persistent violation of human
rights and international law, they must be compelled
to do so through mass, well organized grassroots
pressure by social movements and other components of
civil society."
"In this context, BDS has proven to be the most potent
and promising strategy of international solidarity
with the Palestinian people in our struggle for self
determination, freedom, justice, and equality."
It holistically targets decades of repressive
occupation and Israeli Arab marginalization. Targeting
state criminals and profiteering corporate interests
are key to ending this decades long nightmare.
International companies like Deutsche Bahn pulled out.
Companies with stakes in the Dutch Dexia banking group
sold shares. The Israeli conglomerate Africa Israel
said it won't work in settlements. Moreover, since
Cast Lead, Israeli companies saw exports drop,
especially to Europe.
The guide focuses on profiteering. Exposing it shines
light where it's needed. Targeting corporate bottom
lines matter most, beginning with tarnishing their
image.
Three parts comprise the volume:
(1) Israel's economic sectors, their relative
importance, and corporate profiteers in them.
Detailed information is provided on Israel's export
trade, how BDS activism affects it, holding companies,
banking and financial services, agriculture,
extractive industries, energy, telecommunications,
tourism, freight and public transport, academia,
manufacturing, occupied industrial zones, military
industry, high-tech business, diamonds, drugs,
construction and real estate, and franchises.
(2) Geographical case studies examine exploited areas,
including Syria's Golan, the Jordan Valley, East
Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and the Naqab (a semi-desert
region in southern Israel.
(3) A special focus highlights Britain, its arms and
munitions industry, retailers, investors, Israeli
companies with UK shareholders, banks, pension funds,
universities, and complicit charities.
Detailed maps are provided of the Gaza Marine Zone,
Separation Wall, Golan, Jordan Valley, the 1967 Allon
Plan (cynically proposing maximum land with minimum
Arabs, as well as annexing Palestine's choicest
areas), East Jerusalem, and the Naqab.
Corporate Watch calls itself a "research group
exposing the environmentally destructive and socially
divisive projects of corporations and dragging the
corrupt links between business and power, economics
and politics into the spotlight."
Sunshine is the best disinfectant.
Its research "intends to strengthen and provide a
resource for the growing BDS movement and the wider
(supportive) international" effort.
It also examines the oil industry, globalization,
genetic engineering, agribusiness, toxic chemicals,
migration, privatizations, and other areas to
catalogue corporate crimes.
It works cooperatively with peace campaigners,
environmentalists, trade unionists, NGOs, journalists,
British MPs, and other members of the public.
It targeting Israeli apartheid document focuses on:
(1) Israeli companies profiteering from Palestine's
economy and people. For example, agribusiness
established farms on stolen land. As a result, they
crippled Palestinian agriculture with militarized
help.
(2) International corporations exploiting Palestinian
suffering. Arms companies provide Israel weapons and
munitions. Construction companies build illegal
settlements, Israel's Separation Wall, and Jews-only
commercial development. Others take advantage the same
way.
(3) Foreign states setting up illegal industrial areas
on stolen Palestinian land. For example, Japan plans a
Jordan Valley one working cooperatively with Israeli
and international companies. Britain, Germany, France
and other governments expressed interest in
establishing their own.
A Final Comment
Colonialism, apartheid, and militarized occupation
constitute serious international law breaches. It's
long past time they ended. World leaders show no
resolve. Grassroots activists must do it on their own
until Israel:
•recognizes Palestinian self-determination within 1967
borders with East Jerusalem as its capital;
•respects international law;
•ends its illegal occupation, including Gaza;
•dismantles its Separation Wall;
•grants Israeli Arabs equal rights as Jews; and
•complies with UN resolution 194, affirming the
right of Palestinian refugees to return home or be
fully compensated for losses.
Sustained grassroots activism for the long haul,
including a vibrant BDS movement, has the best chance
to achieve it. It won't happen another way.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached
at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog
site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to
cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on
the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive
Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and
Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are
archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/
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