The Editorial Group, New Catholic times, March 2, 2009
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions an honourable nonviolent tactic
"More than twenty years ago we in the United Nations took the lead from civil society when we agreed that sanctions were required to provide a nonviolent means of pressuring South Africa to end its violations. Today, perhaps we in the United Nations should consider following the lead of a new generation of civil society, who are calling for a similar non-violent campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions to pressure Israel to end its violations."
Fr Miguel DÊscoto, President of UN General Assembly
"More
than twenty years ago we in the United Nations took the lead from civil society
when we agreed that sanctions were required to provide a nonviolent means of pressuring
South Africa to end its violations. Today, perhaps we in the United Nations should
consider following the lead of a new generation of civil society, who are calling
for a similar non-violent campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions to pressure
Israel to end its violations."
Fr Miguel DÊscoto, President of UN General Assembly
The Fourth Geneva Convention states that "The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies" (Israel ratified the Convention in 1951.)
As of now over forty university campuses in Canada are participating in an event called Israeli Apartheid week, March 1 until March 8.On the February 21st weekend the Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario voted unanimously to support the international campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel until that state recognizes the Palestinian right to self-determination.
The global campaign entitled Boycott,Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) started in July 2006 and has been supported by many North American and European churches, 20 Quebec organizations, and others.
In response to a call from Palestinian civil society and trade unions, CUPE Ontario's
Resolution 50 (in 2006) called upon the Union and its locals to support boycotts,
divestments and sanctions (BDS) of the state of Israel, so long as that state
continues to occupy Palestinian territory and refuses to respect and uphold international
law and covenants.The Union vowed to work against "apartheid-like practices"
and the dismantling of the separation wall.The sanctions would be dropped when
Israael "meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people's inalienable
right to self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of international
law including the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties
as stipulated in UN resolution 194."
Resolutions added this February dealt with military research and links between Canadian and Israeli universities dealing in such research.
CUPE along with other unions have had a long history in solidarity movements beyond
their own borders. This is basic union principle that "an injury to one is
an injury to all." One might say it also a basic Christian principle which
insists there is but one human community and it is endowed with inalienable dignity
granted by God. When these rights are abrogated it is a duty to lend support.
Not a simple issue
But now the issue gets complicated. The simple reason is that a boycott against Israel for many reasons disturbs many people. For many Israel is "the Jewish state." For many Jews, both religious and non, there is an emotional attachment. This is wholly understandable. Nobody much less Jews likes pejorative descriptors attached to their spiritual homeland. In this case the "apartheid" tag brings immediately to mind the long and tragic history of South Africa and its brutal treatment of its black citizens. Israel is not South Africa but the cantonization of the West Bank criss-crossed by "Jews only" roads and a separation barrier is analogous to South Africa.
Further the issue has the potential to drive a wedge between the Jewish community and fellow citizens. Add to this the frayed relations between synagogue and Christian churches, friendships built up over a long period of time. In the past thirty years we have also seen the dramatic increase of Canadian citizens from Muslim countries men and women who have also an emotional affinity to the "umma", the Muslim brotherhood and sisterhood, in this case the Muslims who are Palestinian.
For many the flash point and final straw for this newfound energy was the disproportionate
Israeli response in Gaza. The death of over 300 children has fanned worldwide
disgust and given impetus to the movement. CUPE previously had been emboldened
by the support of over 500 Israeli citizens who " support of the CUPE boycott
of Israel, honor your courageous initiative, and fervently hope that it will set
an example for many others to follow."
The Israeli letter directly the frequently used anti-Semitism canard often employed to mute criticism of Israel
"We assure CUPE that it is no more anti-Semitic to criticize and oppose Israeli government policies than it was anti-American to oppose the Vietnam war or is anti-Canadian to oppose the present war in Iraq. It is never anti-Semitic to oppose injustice, destruction, gross inequity, and inequality. We also assure CUPE that Israel, having the 4th most powerful military in the world, is in no existential danger."
Exactly. It is no more anti-Semitic to criticize and oppose Israeli government policies than it is anti-Catholic to criticize the policies of JPII and Benedict in clawing back the reforms of Vatican II, in refusing to consider the legitimate claims of women to be ordained, in censuring the writings and teachings of distinguished theologians, in inviting back an unrepentant holocaust-denying priest, and in continuing the pernicious untruth that homosexuality is a "radical disorder". On the contrary to be silent in the face of such injustices is unacceptable, intolerable and most assuredly anti-Catholic. Such 'loyal opposition " is the very lifeblood of the "Sensus Fidelium." Such is equally the case in refusing legitimate criticism of certain Israeli government policies; that is anti-semitic; that is anti-the-great- vision-that-is-Judaism. And that is why such criticism of Israel, whether it comes from Sid Ryan and CUPE, The Jewish Voice for Peace,the Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians, Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis, Bishop Tutu, Jimmy Carter or Fr. Miguel D'Escoto and the United Nations is to be encouraged, supported and praised.
The Israeli letter further stated that "Israel's destructive criminal policy will not cease without a massive intervention by the international community. However, except for some rather weak official condemnation, the international community is reluctant to intervene,. The United States openly supports the Israeli violence and Europe, although voicing some condemnation, is unwilling to seriously consider withdrawing the "gift" it handed Israel by upgrading its relations with the European Union.
It's time for BSD
Canadian
writer Naomi Klein, Jewish herself speaks for progressives everywhere: "It's
time. Long past time. The best strategy to end the increasingly bloody occupation
is for Israel to become the target of the kind of global movement that put an
end to apartheid in South Africa."
New Catholic times: sensus fidelium also supports the global BSD initiative. In the past many of us have been involved in similar boycotts such as South Africa, California grapes and lettuce, Nestles. These initiatives are colour blind, religiously unbiased. They are simply nonviolent invitations for nations,companies and institutions to come to their senses and rethink their positions. Israel for too long has thumbed its nose at international bodies, ignored resolutions and abused both the Palestinian right of self determination and the right of return. They have for far too long been the victims of a brutal occupation and national humiliation. The world has finally caught up and understood these massive violations of human rights. Israel is close to becoming a pariah nation. As friends of Israel we don't relish this development.
In 2007 A UN-sponsored group called the Alliance of Civilizations, created to
find ways to bridge the growing divide between Muslim and Western societies, released
a report that says the conflict over Israel and the Palestinian territories is
the central driver in global tensions. We believe this to be the case and support
the words of CUPE Ontario president Sid Ryan when he said "It's following
a long tradition and a peaceful tradition of using the pressures of a boycott
in a peaceful way to bring pressure to bear on the state of Israel to end this
illegal occupation."