BDS

The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement, colloquially the BDS Movement, is a Palestinian-led global campaign seeking political activism against Israel for "occupying and colonizing Palestinian land, discriminating against Palestinian citizens of Israel and denying Palestinian refugees the right to return to their homes." The movement, which takes its cues from the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, was created in 2005 as calls grew in the international community to pressure Israel on behalf of the Palestinian cause. It is often criticized for being antisemitic in its opposition to Zionism and promoting the de-ligitimization of Israel and denying the country its right to exist and self-determination. Movement goals The BDS Movement calls for non-violent yet punishing measures against Israel until it ends what is seen as an occupation of rightfully Palestinian territory and a dismantlement of the West Bank separation barrier. BDS also pushes for full equality of Palestinians and the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes in accordance with United Nations Resolution 194, adopted December 11, 1948. The movement uses protests and cultural boycotts to target Israeli businesses in the West Bank or events with connects to Israel. BDS is a key player in the international Israeli Apartheid Week, a series of lectures and rallies across college campuses against Israeli activity in the West Bank. BDS supporters have successfully gotten some artists from cancelling concerts in Israel, even when the concerts were not scheduled to take place in the West Bank. In addition, business boycotts are a common tactic employed by the movement, targeting Israeli businesses, notably the soft drink company SodaStream and Israeli banks Bank Hapoalim and Bank Leumi. Supporters are urged to refrain from buying goods or using services from Israeli companies or from companies which do business in Israel. Criticism Multiple organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, classify the BDS movement as antisemitic, citing the double standards Israel is held to that apply to no other country in the world. Other claims of antisemitism highlight that BDS supporters engage in antisemitic activity and deny Israel's right to self-determination. Critics also point out BDS closely parallels the Nazi boycott of Jewish businesses in the era right before World War II. Critics also note that the calls to boycott Israeli businesses, which themselves employ Palestinian workers, inadvertently harm Palestinians, the people the BDS movement claims to support. The European Union has expressed opposition to the boycott of Israel, and motions have been passed across the world condemning the movement. A non-binding motion in Ontario, Canada called to "reject the 'differential treatment' of Israel by the BDS movement," while 21 states in the United States have passed anti-BDS laws. French anti-hate speech law has been used against BDS activists. Support BDS enjoys endorsements from the African National Congress and branches of the Green Party in England, Wales, Scotland and Canada. Pink Floyd musician Roger Waters is a noted supporter of the BDS movement, as are Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu and novelist Alice Walker.

Most NYers deterred by Zohran Mamdani’s BDS support, but 1 in 3 see it as a boon, poll shows

Support for the positions was highest among younger voters ages 18 to 44 — aligning with recent polling on Israel issues unrelated to the mayor’s race — and among men.

 New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, now a NYC mayoral candidate, speaks during a news conference outside the White House to announce a hunger strike to demand that President Joe Biden "call for a permanent ceasefire and no military aid to Israel, on November 27, 2023.
 PRO-PALESTINIAN students hold a walkout from classes to protest ‘one year of genocide’ on the people of Gaza, at the University of California, Irvine earlier this month.

University of California announces BDS ban across all campuses

 The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) calls for a demonstration at Ha'penny Bridge under the banner 'Shamrocks for Palestine' to protest Israeli attacks on Gaza in Dublin, Ireland on March 15, 2025.

Ireland burns political capital to block just €214k in settlement dates and olives

 The Rock memorial in honor of Bibas family at University of Michigan vandalized

University of Michigan regents, execs get 24-hour security as threats, harassment persist


BDS win: Int'l Sociological Association suspends membership of Israel due to 'Gaza genocide'

ISA added that it regretted not taking a clear position condemning the situation in Gaza, and the suspension of ISS "reflects the extraordinary gravity of the current situation."

 Pro-Palestinian protesters wave Palestinian flags, as they demonstrate on the Zuiderstrand beach against the violence in Gaza, on the sidelines of a NATO Summit, in The Hague, Netherlands June 24, 2025.

UK export of F-35 parts to Israel was lawful, London court rules

West Bank-based group Al-Haq had taken legal action against Britain's Department for Business and Trade over its decision to exempt F-35 parts when it suspended some arms export licenses last year.

 An F-35 plane stands on the tarmac at Nevatim Air Force Base.

Jordan declines to play with Israel in U19 basketball World Cup, forfeits match

Blue-and-white athletes once again targeted by sports boycott as FIBA investigates Jordanians' decision not to play.

 THE ISRAELI Under-19 National Team opened its World Cup campaign on Saturday with a 102-77 victory over host Switzerland in Lausanne. However, Sunday's scheduled game vs Jordan seems to be in jeopardy.

An existential threat: New York cannot have a mayor who fans the flames of antisemitism - opinion

For mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani to say Israel does not have a right to exist as a Jewish state, he is aligning himself with the world's most notorious antisemites.

NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani against backdrop of pro-Palestinian protest in New York. (illustration)

Norway's largest trade union adopts BDS policy: A stain on a nation's values - opinion

To exclude an entire people from hotels, restaurants, or the marketplace based solely on their ethnic or religious background is a step back toward an ideological abyss.

 People celebrate with Palestinian flags as they attend a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Oslo, Norway January 19, 2025.

Jordan BDS coordinator arrested by authorities, taken to undisclosed location 

Khader's May 6 arrest comes amid a national crackdown on BDS activists and on those who support Gaza.

 Protesters carry a banner with the acronym BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) during the International Women's Day demonstration held in Madrid on March 8, 2025.

Yuval Raphael advances in Eurovision predictions as protesters call for exclusion of Israel

Eurovision’s director has repeatedly responded to such calls, saying Eurovision is a contest between public broadcasters, not gov'ts.

 Yuval Rafael performs in her second pre-contest rehearsal for the Eurovision Song Contest last week.

University of Toronto Faculty Association votes to divest from Israel

The motion claimed that the divestment in Israel should occur in line with the university's current divestment from Russia.

 Pro-Palestinian protesters and their supporters hold a graduation ceremony in honour of those in Gaza at the University of Toronto on their first day of convocation in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, June 3, 2024.

Tufts student returns to Massachusetts after release from immigration custody

"America is the greatest democracy in the world," Rumeysa Ozturk said. "I have faith in the American system of justice."

Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, of Turkey, speaks at a press conference at Boston Logan International Airport after she was released on a judge's order after spending over six weeks in an immigration detention center in Louisiana, in Boston, Massachusetts, May 10, 2025.

Nova festival survivor Yuval Raphael gears up to represent Israel at Eurovision

Many Eurovision fans bet money on the outcome, and bookmakers around the world currently rank Raphael fifth to win, out of 37 competitors.

  Yuval Raphael is representing Israel this year at Basel in the Eurovision song contest

UK-based Palestine Action launches in Spain

It's first target was Spain's Defense Ministry, which it claims "buys weapons from Israel's biggest arms producer, which are first 'battle-tested' on Palestinians."

 Palestine Action España sprays graffiti on the Defense Ministry building, May 2025.