Explanation

The often unfairly-maligned Palestinian Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions (BDS) movement was initiated in 2005 by 170 Palestinian civil society organizations as a means of building a nonviolent international campaign in support of fundamental Palestinian human and political rights. Thus, BDS originates from an occupied, indigenous population living under Israeli military occupation and blockade. It has received broad, worldwide support from governments, banks, corporations, churches, academic organizations, and artists. There is nothing in either the BDS demands or its tactics that is even remotely anti-Jewish. Indeed, the three demands of the BDS movement are entirely consistent with established policy of the Episcopal Church. These demands, which are summarized in the first resolve, are:

1.  Ending Israeli occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the separation wall.   The Reaffirmation of Commitment to Peace in Israel/Palestine, published in the minutes of the November 12-15, 2006 meeting of the Church’s Executive Council, calls for “the withdrawal by Israel from all occupied Palestinian Territories as established in 1967 West Bank”.

2.  Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality. At the 80th General Convention in 2022, the Church passed resolution C039, which urged the President of the US and Congress “to take action to oppose Israeli laws and practices that result in unequal rights for two peoples”.

3.  Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.  Since its 73rd General Convention, the Episcopal Church has stood firmly in support of this demand. The second resolve of resolution 2000-B016 reads, “That the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church affirm the principle of the right of return for every Palestinian, as well as restitution/compensation for their loss as called for by the United Nations”.

With respect to the tactics of BDS, the Montgomery bus boycott, the United Farm Workers’ grape boycott, and the international boycott of apartheid South Africa are but three examples of the use of economic pressure to address injustice.  Christians played leading roles in these nonviolent campaigns. BDS now joins this great tradition.

Finally, support for BDS is a response to the Palestinian ecumenical Christian movement Kairos Palestine and its international partner, the Christian coalition Global Kairos for Justice. A 2020 appeal from these groups, “Cry for Hope: A Call to Decisive Action” includes this on BDS: “The 2005 Palestinian call for Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) provides a framework for economic, cultural, and academic measures and for direct political advocacy as nonviolent means to end occupation and oppression. The purpose of BDS is not to punish or isolate Israel. It is rather to exert pressure on Israel to comply with international law, and to call upon its government and its people, in the spirit of the Word of God, to enter into the ways of justice and peace, thereby affirming its own rights as well as the rights of the Palestinian people.”

 

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