Bienstock '20: Understanding BDS Beyond the Headlines, by Faris Barhoum

Brown University Jewish Voice for Peace, student group emblem. 

                                                         






November 20, 2019




By Faris K. Barhoum




    Brown University student and Brown Jewish Voice for Peace and Brown Students for Justice in Palestine member Ben Bienstock, just wrote an op-ed piece for The Brown Daily Herald, where he outlined why the Palestinian led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement was started and singles out the state of Israel. As stated by Bienstock, "Opponents of the movement have gained media and political prominence. Pundits have gone at length about the movement's supposed extremism, its 'one-sidedness' and especially its alleged antisemitism. Politicians have fumed about the movement, propelling dozens of states to pass legislation that attempts to outlaw BDS. Congress even briefly considered an ill-advised and certainly unconstitutional bill to criminalize supporters of the movement" (Bienstock, 1). As a result the BDS movement has become very controversial in the last couple of years and the State of Israel has gone to great lengths to criminalizing those that support the movement, and Israel has labeled BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti as a "terrorist." As of 2017, Israel has raised over $72 million in an effort to combat the movement at home and abroad.

Brown Students for Justice In Palestine, student group emblem. 

 
    Bienstock believes that the negative discussion on BDS has overshadowed why it was started and what it aims to do in the long run. The main goal of the BDS movement is to hold Israel accountable for their crimes against the Palestinian people and supporters of BDS want a state that allows for Palestinians to live side-by-side with Israelis. Bienstock contends: "Yet, amid this clamor, many people pay remarkably little attention to what the BDS movement actually is; in the process, they ignore the voices of the Palestinians who called for the movement and the experiences that led them to do so" (Ibid, 1).
     The BDS movement has broad support from around the globe and Bienstock points out that we should pay attention to this call. Bienstock states, "Globally, BDS has won the support of labor unions, religious organizations, student governments and academic associations. Before the movement, discussions of the 'Israeli-Palestinian conflict' erased Palestinian voices and misrepresented Palestinian resistance as merely one side in some kind of old-age intractable sectarian strife. BDS has begun shifting the focus of these conversations to simple questions of human rights and is generating grassroots pressure to win freedom and, justice and equality" (Ibid, 2).
   The BDS movement has clearly started a real conversation and it is worth listening to because debate and controversy are good, we need to hear differing opinions. It will be interesting to see where this movement goes in the coming years. Till then we just have to stay tuned.


Article,

Bienstock, Ben. The Brown Daily Herald, "Bienstock '20: Understanding BDS Beyond The      Headlines."
      http://www.browndailyherald.com/2019/11/17/bienstock-20-understanding-bds-beyond-
      headlines/. 11/20/19.

Tensions Mont Over Another BDS Panel At UMass, by Faris K. Barhoum

UMass Communications Professor Sut Jhally.

                                                     



November 13, 2019





By Faris K. Barhoum






      This past Tuesday [November 12], the University of Massachusetts held an event titled, "Criminalizing Dissent: The Attack on BDS & American Democracy." The panel event was organized by UMass Professor Sut Jhally. Professor Jhally, who teaches communications organized the event for Tuesday night at UMass. The event was moderated by Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour, and the panel featured Harvard Professor Cornel West, journalist and activist Shaun King, anti-racism advocated and author Tim Wise; Palestine Legal director Dima Khalidi; and remotely from Skype, BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti.
  The event highlighted the "accelerating efforts by U.S. political leaders, pro-Israel lobbying groups, and college and university administrators to silence, smear, and criminalize" those who support the BDS movement (Christensen, 1). Those who are against BDS have called the movement "anti-Zionist and anti Semitic." It is vitally important to point out that the movement is not anti-Semitic, the movement is not against Jews or Judaism; but to be anti-Zionist has nothing to do with being an anti-Semite (Ibid, 1). Zionism calls for an ethno-religious state for Jews and Jews only. The BDS movement is vehemently opposed to this because it leaves no room for the Palestinian people, who are the indigenous population of Palestine. The BDS movement would like to see a state that allows for Palestinians to live in a secular state alongside Israeli Jews with full equality and human rights for all.
   Hillel at UMass, held a counter event. The Hillel students organized a "peace walk," in opposition to the panel organized by Professor Jhally. The UMass administration got involved as well. As stated by Dusty Christensen of The Daily Hampshire Gazette: "Ahead of the panel, Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy released a statement distancing the university from the event, criticizing it as 'polarizing' and stating that UMass is 'firmly opposed to BDS'" (Ibid, 2). In response to Chancellor Subbaswamy's statement, Jewish Voice for Peace sent an open letter stating that Subbaswamy's rhetoric "contributes to racist and Islamophobic harassment and intimidation that Palestinian students and community members routinely face for speaking out in favor of BDS" (Ibid, 2).

UMass Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy. 

   According to Christensen, Professor Jhally and other faculty at UMass wrote an open letter criticizing Chancellor Subbaswamy's statement as falling "far short of the robust defense of academic freedom...that we expect of our chancellor." The open letter has been signed by over 130 faculty members according to Professor Jhally. In addition, "the university chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine [at UMass], also has written a letter condemning the chancellor's remarks, as have academics and activists outside the university--including dissident and linguist Noam Chomsky and University of California professor and activist Angela Davis" (Ibid, 1). It is quite clear that there is real resistance to hearing a debate that is not supportive of Israel and highlights the plight of the Palestinian people. We should be able to hear a differing viewpoint on the subject of Israel/Palestine.


Article,

Christensen, Dusty. "Tensions Mont Over Another BDS Panel At UMass."
    https://www.gazettenet.com/Supporters-critics-speak-out-ahead-of-BDS-event-at-UMass-Amherst-
    30273539. 11/13/19.

Israel Court Rejects Human Rights Watch Activist's Deportation Appeal, by Faris K. Barhoum

Omar Shakir of Human Rights Watch.

November 6, 2019


By Faris K. Barhoum




   This past Tuesday [November 5] the Israeli Supreme Court upheld a ruling that a Human Rights Watch employee must leave the Jewish State. Omar Shakir, a senior member of Human Rights Watch is to be deported from Israel on the grounds of supporting the Boycott Divestment Sanctions Movement or BDS. The BDS movement was started by Palestinians in 2005 to hold Israel accountable for their continued occupation of the Palestinian people and to pressure states, entities, and nations from conducting military and economic business with Israel.
   Mr. Shakir will be deported and his work permit will be revoked by the Jewish State because the interior minister of Israel stated: "He [Shakir] had supported a boycott of Israel. Israel formally revoked his work permit in the spring of 2018 for his support of the BDS movement, but for the last year Mr. Shakir challenged the state of Israel at the Supreme Court level (BBC.com, 1). Mr. Shakir is a trained lawyer.
   According to the BBC, "It [Israel], based the decision on a dossier covering his activities over the previous 10 years, almost all of them predating his Human Rights Watch role" (Ibid, 1). Mr. Shakir and Human Rights Watch have explicitly stated that neither support a boycott of Israel. Human Rights Watch for its part never supported the BDS Movement back in its inception in 2005, and they currently do not support the boycott. In the case of Mr. Shakir, he never actively pursued nor supported the boycott while in his role at Human Rights Watch. Mr. Shakir merely did his job as an employee of Human Rights Watch, which was holding Israel accountable for its human rights abuses against the Palestinians.

Article,

BBC.com, "Israel Court Rejects Human Rights Watch Activist's Deportation Appeal,"
    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50300959. 11/6/19.

Hamas Says Ready For Palestinian Elections, by Faris K. Barhoum

From Left to Right: Yahya Sinwar the Head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the former Head of Hamas in Gaza, Ismail Haniyah.

                                         




October 29, 2019



By Faris K. Barhoum



    Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the Head of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar have announced that they are ready and prepared for Palestinian elections. The Palestinian people last held a national election in the spring of 2006. Hamas won that election in a landslide which resulted in Europe, America, and Israel boycotting and refusing to deal with the Palestinian faction because the Hamas movement is labeled and considered a terrorist organization by those in the West and by Israel. It would be a positive step for a national election to be held, especially since the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have had a bitter rivalry as a result of the first election in 2006.
   The announcement was made by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyah on Monday [October 28], after a meeting with Palestinian Central Election Commissioner Hanna Nasser. Yet, as stated by Ynet.com, "There was no indication whether the meeting overcame the obstacles that have scuttled similar pledges in the past" (Ynet, 1). The Palestinian Authority and Hamas have made several pledges in the past and those pledges have broken down. The reason for this is because both Palestinian factions fought one another in 2007 when Hamas forceable kicked out the Palestinian Authority and the PA permanently resettled in the West Bank. Mahmoud Abbas the leader of the Sultah or the Palestinian Authority announced the intention to hold Palestinian elections, while he spoke at the UN General Assembly in New York last month.
   It remains to be seen what will come about with the whole discussion surrounding a Palestinian election. It is my hope that a Palestinian national election will be held and that the results will be respected by Israel, the West, and the international community.

Article,

Ynet.com and the Associated Press. "Hamas Says Ready For Palestinian Elections,"
    https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5615027,00.html 10/29/19. 

'Change The System:' Lebanese Protesters Tell The Government, by Faris K. Barhoum

Lebanese demonstrating and calling on the government to hold an election.

  October 23, 2019
 



  By Faris K. Barhoum




        For the last six days there have been widespread protests throughout Lebanon. The Lebanese people have been calling for elections and for the current government of Saad Hariri to step down. The regime of Saad Hariri implemented renewed reforms, in particular economic reforms to the already cash strapped nation of 6 million. Thousands of Lebanese have taken to the streets to voice their frustrations. As of Monday [October 21], Prime Minister Hariri addressed the nation and announced sweeping reforms, which was welcomed by many, although some do not think it is enough. Many in Lebanon would prefer that Prime Minister Hariri step aside and call for an election.
   The reforms that were announced by Prime Minister Hariri included "a package of reforms that included a 50-percent reduction in salary for politicians and the establishment of an anti-corruption panel" (Gadzo, 20). The Lebanese people want to see the Lebanese hand over power to a transnational council that is made up of judges who do not have a political affiliation until and when a election is held and a new government is formed. The new reforms Lebanon announced came after economic measures were taken to improve the economy. In July Lebanon passed an austerity plan in the hopes of reviving the economy because many were upset with the rise in taxes. As stated by Mersiha Gadzo of Al-Jazeera.com: "Government plans to impose new taxes on tobacco, petrol and WhatsApp calls sparked the Mediterranean country's biggest protests in years, spread from Beirut to the southern cities of Tripoli and Tyre," and as a result Lebanese of all backgrounds have united and have gone into the streets to protest. The protests have been peaceful for the most part, but tense at times (Ibid, 3).
    Many in Lebanon feel that the new reforms announced by Prime Minister Hariri on Monday are devoid of true change. The Lebanese government is not adequately addressing the concerns of the people in the opinion of many Lebanese, & the Lebanese people want the current government to step down in order to hold new elections. Many want to see a change in the system in Lebanon as it comes to sectarian politics. The Lebanese people believe that the sectarian political system only "creates patronage and clientelism" and many believe there must be an overhaul to the current system (Ibid, 5). Time will tell if the current reforms will lead to positive change, but the Lebanese people's wishes should be respected as it pertains to new elections and a transfer of power on the part of Prime Minister Hariri.

Article,

Gadzo, Mersiha. "'Change The System:' Lebanese Protesters Tell The Government,"
   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/system-lebanese-protesters-government-
  191022171257906.html 10/22/19.



                                                   

Israel To Increase Cuts To Electricity Provided To Palestinians, by Faris K. Barhoum

An Israeli engineer at an electrical substation near the occupied
West Bank city of Jenin.

                                                   


October 16, 2019



By Faris K. Barhoum




    Israel is going to step up and increase cuts to electricity in the West Bank due to unpaid debts and theft. Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO) chairman of the board and CEO Hisham Omari announced the move to cut electricity back in September. The cuts to power were announced in September and the first stage of power cuts occurred last month. As stated by Tzvi Joffre of The Jerusalem Post.com: "The Israeli Electric Corporation [IEC] may cut off electricity for as long as two hours a day. The Palestinian Authority owes about NIS 300 billion and about an additional NIS 150 million due to occurrences of electricity theft" (Joffre, 1). 300 billion shekels is $85 billion dollars and 150 million shekels is $42 million dollars.
      Chairman and CEO of JDECO "warned that the cuts could adversely affect institutions, hospital, education, water, telecommunications, drug stores and other vital services and will further deteriorate the electrical situation in a manner similar to the situation in the Gaza Strip" (Ibid, 1). The Israeli Electric Company communicated to JDECO, "that electricity would be cut off on the 22nd of September from 10 a.m. to 12 noon local time in the cities and districts of Ramallah and Bethlehem, and on the 23rd from 12 noon until 2:00 p.m. in parts of Ramallah and Jericho and their area villages" (Ibid, 1). Back in August the Palestinian Authority and Israel reached an agreement "in which the authority would pay 300 million shekels [$85 million] to Israel to cover the debt owed to the IEC" (Ibid, 1). This is an ongoing battle that we will see play out for the foreseeable future.

Article,

Joffre, Tzvi."Israel To Increase Cuts To Electricity Provided
        To Palestinians."
         https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-to-increase-cuts-to-electricity-provided-to-
         Palestinians-604874. 10/16/19.

Palestinian-Saudi Soccer Match "Normalization" With Israel, by Faris K. Barhoum

Palestinian National Football Team, 2019 Roster.

                                       
 October 9, 2019


By Faris K. Barhoum




    The Palestinian National Football [Soccer] Team is slated to compete against the Saudi National Football team in Ramallah on October 15. Yet, many are voicing their displeasure and many in Palestine would prefer that the Palestinian Club not play Saudi Arabia. The match will qualify either club to play in the 2022 Asian World Cup. The match is supposed to take place at the Faisal Husseini Stadium in A-Ram, which is a town outside of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
 

The Palestinian National Association Emblem

     Several Palestinians, in particular Palestinian political activists believe the move allows for "normalization" between Israel and Saudi Arabia. As stated by Khaled Abu Toameh, "Palestinian activists on Wednesday [October, 9] launched a campaign to voice their opposition to a soccer game between the Palestinians and Saudi Arabia" (Abu Toameh, 1). Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal, the chairman of the Saudi General Sport Authority claimed "the decision was in response to the request of the Palestinian Football Association." In general most Arab countries avoid playing in Palestine because most Arab countries do not have a formal peace accord with Israel, beside Jordan and Egypt who signed formal peace accords with the Jewish State. According to Abu Toameh of
The Jerusalem Post: "Some Arab clubs and national teams have traditionally refused to play in the West Bank because it required them to apply for entry permits from Israel" (Ibid, 1).
   Jibril Rajoub, who is the head of the Palestinian Football Association stressed the "historic importance," of the Saudi Club coming to Palestine to play for the qualifier. The campaign that some Palestinians launched in response to the slated qualifier was started online. The campaign was titled "Sports Normalization" and "Normalization is Treason" (Ibid, 1). There is quite a bit of anger and it remains to be seen if the match will be played as originally planned. This story is ongoing.

Article,

Abu Toameh, Khaled. The Jerusalem Post, "Palestinian-Saudi Soccer Match 'Normalization' With Israel - Activists."
    https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Palestinian-Saudi-soccer-match-normalization-with-Israel-
   activists-604085. 10/9/19.