This is the most important, valuable and significant critique of BDS and set of suggestions for actual work for peace with justice in the Middle East I have ever read.
I agree entirely, but with one provision: not two states for two peoples but two states, Israel and Palestine, which are homelands for two peoples, meaning states which provide refuge to Jews and Palestinians, respectively, now and in the future, who feel to the need to return or emigrate there.
Israel is already and has always been a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state. Palestine will not be free of Jews, and nearly every ongoing formulation for the full establishment of a State of Palestine recognizes there will and should be residence granted for those Jews who wish to remain there or return to there (for instance the Old Quarter families expelled in 1948). Similarly, there would need to be some limited right of return for Palestinians to Israel, as part of the land and people swaps that would constitute a final status settlement.
That settlement would really be what J Street calls a 23-state solution, involving mutual recognition of Israel and nearly all of the Arab nations in the region. And it would likely soon lead to an EU-like confederation first of Israel and Palestine, and then of Lebanon and Jordan, with even Syrian participation, if and when it becomes more fully stable and democratic.
But as for BDS, it is the most ineffective boycott in the history of boycotts, and for over twenty years I have opposed it publicly and in principle within the US democratic left. The ludicrous and even silly example of the Park Slope Food Coop boycott should hopefully help us to use humor, yes, humor to show that people of conscience and goodwill who have in the past supported BDS should consider other ways to work for peace with justice in the Middle East.
We need a real peace movement, not just solidary with either Israel or Palestine. Why not also support recognition of the State of Palestine, as did several dozen members of House of Representatives, by signing on to a letter issued by Rep. Ro Khanna last year! Write a letter to this effect to your local newspaper or Jewish News! Speak out for the principles Jo-Ann suggests!
Jo-Ann: I am not opposed to your suggestions re: how to support the opposition in Israel. I would like to know why you think BDS worked in South Africa while it won't work in Israel. Yes - everyone suffered - but for the common good - and in the end BDS against South Africa was successful. Perhaps some hybrid combination of the two strategies can work.
Actually you didn't answer my question. Why BDS worked in South Africa but it would not in Israel. Perhaps I misunderstand what happened vis-a-vis South Africa and I am certainly willing to stand corrected. After all - actually things did not turn out 100% for the black population as a result of negotiations that undercut their property rights etc. I do not think Israel should be given the benefit of the doubt. Sure there are good Israeli individuals living there who are trying to do good, but they are existing on a piece of property that was gained on the backs and suffering of the individuals who were already living there be it Muslims Bedouin Druze and Jews before the Mandate. I still think you need to answer why South Africa and not Israel. Thank you - just in case.
You're still not answering their question. BDS didnt end the South African state, so whether or not one believes states have a right to exist is immaterial.
Anywho, im just curious to see if you'll answer the question.
Yeah Akil exactly right. I think you are accidentally responding to me rather than the person who needs to be answering. I just got tired of asking the question. The two issues - BDS and 'right to exist' - are totally unrelated as you correctly state. I kinda got sucked into that ‘right to exist’ issue when my brain cells weren't working 100%.
You’d think it’d be an easy question to answer. The cynic might say that she’s knowingly trying to talk people out of a proven non-violent tactic for combatting apartheid, while redirecting people’s energy into efforts that are a lot less direct and in some instances actively unhelpful (I don’t know if she’s aware that in Israel’s current political context Netanyahu’s main electoral competition is coming from his right on Palestine, for instance).
I try not to make assumptions about people based on arguments that appear to be in good faith but there’s some iffy-ness about this one.
Under the BDS resolution Park Slope Co-op passed the olive oil from the Jewish-Arab women's collective my family has been buying since 10/7 to support people on the ground is now banned. I think that says it all.
I hope you can get something about this published in a wider outlet. Great work Jo-Ann!
This is the most important, valuable and significant critique of BDS and set of suggestions for actual work for peace with justice in the Middle East I have ever read.
I agree entirely, but with one provision: not two states for two peoples but two states, Israel and Palestine, which are homelands for two peoples, meaning states which provide refuge to Jews and Palestinians, respectively, now and in the future, who feel to the need to return or emigrate there.
Israel is already and has always been a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state. Palestine will not be free of Jews, and nearly every ongoing formulation for the full establishment of a State of Palestine recognizes there will and should be residence granted for those Jews who wish to remain there or return to there (for instance the Old Quarter families expelled in 1948). Similarly, there would need to be some limited right of return for Palestinians to Israel, as part of the land and people swaps that would constitute a final status settlement.
That settlement would really be what J Street calls a 23-state solution, involving mutual recognition of Israel and nearly all of the Arab nations in the region. And it would likely soon lead to an EU-like confederation first of Israel and Palestine, and then of Lebanon and Jordan, with even Syrian participation, if and when it becomes more fully stable and democratic.
But as for BDS, it is the most ineffective boycott in the history of boycotts, and for over twenty years I have opposed it publicly and in principle within the US democratic left. The ludicrous and even silly example of the Park Slope Food Coop boycott should hopefully help us to use humor, yes, humor to show that people of conscience and goodwill who have in the past supported BDS should consider other ways to work for peace with justice in the Middle East.
We need a real peace movement, not just solidary with either Israel or Palestine. Why not also support recognition of the State of Palestine, as did several dozen members of House of Representatives, by signing on to a letter issued by Rep. Ro Khanna last year! Write a letter to this effect to your local newspaper or Jewish News! Speak out for the principles Jo-Ann suggests!
Brava! Amen! Yasher koakh! (For my two cents, I'd add J Street to your list of ours under point 3!)
Jo-Ann: I am not opposed to your suggestions re: how to support the opposition in Israel. I would like to know why you think BDS worked in South Africa while it won't work in Israel. Yes - everyone suffered - but for the common good - and in the end BDS against South Africa was successful. Perhaps some hybrid combination of the two strategies can work.
Yes boycotting settlement products and isolating everting over the Green line makes sense as I argue - but blanket rejection of all of israel does not
Actually you didn't answer my question. Why BDS worked in South Africa but it would not in Israel. Perhaps I misunderstand what happened vis-a-vis South Africa and I am certainly willing to stand corrected. After all - actually things did not turn out 100% for the black population as a result of negotiations that undercut their property rights etc. I do not think Israel should be given the benefit of the doubt. Sure there are good Israeli individuals living there who are trying to do good, but they are existing on a piece of property that was gained on the backs and suffering of the individuals who were already living there be it Muslims Bedouin Druze and Jews before the Mandate. I still think you need to answer why South Africa and not Israel. Thank you - just in case.
It doesn’t seem
You share my belief that israel has a right to exist at all as per the 1948 UN mandate
You're still not answering their question. BDS didnt end the South African state, so whether or not one believes states have a right to exist is immaterial.
Anywho, im just curious to see if you'll answer the question.
Thanks!
Yeah Akil exactly right. I think you are accidentally responding to me rather than the person who needs to be answering. I just got tired of asking the question. The two issues - BDS and 'right to exist' - are totally unrelated as you correctly state. I kinda got sucked into that ‘right to exist’ issue when my brain cells weren't working 100%.
You’d think it’d be an easy question to answer. The cynic might say that she’s knowingly trying to talk people out of a proven non-violent tactic for combatting apartheid, while redirecting people’s energy into efforts that are a lot less direct and in some instances actively unhelpful (I don’t know if she’s aware that in Israel’s current political context Netanyahu’s main electoral competition is coming from his right on Palestine, for instance).
I try not to make assumptions about people based on arguments that appear to be in good faith but there’s some iffy-ness about this one.
Yeah Akil. I think your iffy-ness antennae are working.
It was Jo-Ann Mort who wasn't answering my original South Africa BDS question.
Under the BDS resolution Park Slope Co-op passed the olive oil from the Jewish-Arab women's collective my family has been buying since 10/7 to support people on the ground is now banned. I think that says it all.
I hope you can get something about this published in a wider outlet. Great work Jo-Ann!
Great set of recommendations.
Please share Larry!!
You actually make my point - you would rather discuss than do something to dislodge Netanyahu
If you are satisfied that talk works we are not on the same wavelength