Researchers from the pro-Israel NGO Monitor watchdog group have compiled information on the activities of many of the BDS groups which the Israeli government included on its full list of those to be barred from entering the country, beginning in March.
“The boycott organizations need to know that the State of Israel will act against them and not allow them entry to harm our citizens,” Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan said at Sunday’s cabinet meeting in making the announcement. “No nation would have permitted entry to critics coming to harm the country.”
In addition to senior officials of the 20 blacklisted organizations, and key activists, mayors and establishment figures who lead or promote boycotts against Israel will also be banned from entering the Jewish State. Activists who arrive on behalf of one of the blacklisted groups, or as part of a delegations sponsored by, or initiated or promoted by one of the blacklisted organization, will also be denied entry as well.
While those listed below are not the only groups involved in boycotts and delegitimization of Israel, according to the NGO Monitor, they are among the worst. There are links with each one, and a short paragraph explaining how that particular organization merited its inclusion:
· Association France Palestine Solidarité (AFPS): Calls for French sanctions using Holocaust rhetoric (refers to the Gaza Strip as an “Extermination Camp”) and accuses Israel of ethnic cleansing and apartheid. The organization receives government funding from the French government, and states that its objective is to change French policy so that France will apply pressure and sanctions against the State of Israel.
· Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP): Featured the PFLP terror group’s Rasmea Odeh, who played a role in two terrorist bombings, as a speaker at 2017 conference. Their San Diego branch lobbied for the release of the PFLP head, who was imprisoned for involvement in many terror attacks.
· US Campaign for Palestinian Rights: Accuses Israel of “war crimes” and constructing an “apartheid wall;” makes numerous comparisons with between Israel and apartheid South Africa, seeking the elimination of Jewish self-determination. Its member organizations include various chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace and Code Pink (all three on the Anti-BDS List), and numerous other BDS organizations.
· War on Want (UK): Regularly erases the context of Palestinian terror and utilizes demonizing rhetoric, accusing Israel of “war crimes,” “ethnic cleansing,” and “apartheid.” According to the organization’s website, one of its donors is Interpal, which is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
· American Friends Service Committee (AFSC): among leaders of BDS on US campuses and churches; accuses Israel of “slow and systematic ethnic cleansing,” and promotes “anti-normalization,” rejecting dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.
· American Muslims for Palestine (AMP): Accuses Israel of “apartheid,” and advocates for a “right of return” and the elimination of Israel. AMP board includes at least two members tied to Holy Land Foundation (HLF); HLF assets were frozen by U.S. Treasury because it was funneling money to Hamas. AMP is chaired by Hatem Bazian, co-founder of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), whose national umbrella organization is on the Anti-BDS List as well.
· CODEPINK: Regularly presents distorted view of the conflict which omits Hamas terror against Israeli civilians. In 2016 mayor of German city rejected awarding a tolerance prize over allegations that the group is anti-Semitic. It is interesting to note the co-founder of CODEPINK, Medea Benjamin, is also the president of the Benjamin Fund. The Benjamin Fund has provided thousands of dollars to the ‘US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation’ as well as to Amnesty International, Jewish Voice for Peace (also on the Anti-BDS List) and Human Rights Watch, among other biased NGOs.