Washington, DC - Today the Board of Directors of Americans for Peace Now met in a special session to discuss Israel's new anti-boycott law. In the session the board unanimously adopted the following position: APN's Board wholeheartedly endorses Peace Now's campaign to challenge the new law and joins in their call for a boycott of products made in settlements.
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APN President and CEO Debra DeLee commented:
APN President and CEO Debra DeLee commented:
"The actions of our Board today underscore the seriousness of the threat today to Israel's democracy. The new law passed by the Knesset is a travesty of democracy. APN proudly supports our colleagues in the Israeli Peace Now movement as they lead domestic efforts to challenge the new law. They understand what this law means for Israel and for their future as Israelis. They know that it is not just their own ability to fight for peace, but also the very soul of Israel, that it is at stake.
"APN continues to oppose boycotts and other forms of BDS against Israel and the Israeli people as a whole, and urges people to continue buying Israeli products. However, today it is clear that Israeli extremists are exploiting concerns about BDS, turning them into a pretext to effectively outlaw peaceful opposition to settlements and the occupation. In light of these attacks, no one who cares about Israel can afford to be squeamish about the issue of settlement boycotts.
"Today we join Peace Now in urging all those who care about Israel's character as a democracy to boycott settlements and products made in settlements. Settlements are not Israel. Such a boycott is the best way to show our support for Israel and to register our commitment to Israeli democracy."
"Like Peace Now, we recognize that fundamentally this new law is not about boycotts or even, truly, about settlements. It is about stifling dissent, smothering activism, and suppressing freedom of expression. We also know that this flagrant attack on the basic democratic value of freedom of expression is not an isolated case. Tomorrow the Knesset will consider an anti-democratic measure that would set up McCarthy-ite committees to investigate Israeli non-governmental organizations. Multiple other pieces of pending legislation seek to suffocate the Israeli civil society organizations that are most critical to preserving Israel's democracy - groups working to promote peace, human rights, and civil rights within Israel.
"All of us who love Israel - who love the people of Israel and who are deeply committed to ensuring a future for them in the Jewish and democratic state of Israel - must speak out and act to protest these attacks on Israel's democracy."
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I have been a small, but long time supporter of APN. With this decision to boycott Israeli products (albeit just those from the settlements) I will stop supporting APN. By supporting such a boycott you give cover to all organizations boycotting Israel and Israeli's whether they be in pre or post-67 Israel.
Your emotional response to bad legislation will now give cover and support to those who aren't interested in peace, but instead aimed on destroying Israel. I'm saddened by your decision and would urge you to reconsider.
All settlements? They're all alike? Anything over the Green Line? The Jewish Quarter of the Old City? Seriously, please do tell.
How about a [law, rule, convention] that calls
upon ALL products of 'Israel' to affix a label
which state the product's source CITY/TOWN?..
Consider buying something labeled, 'Made in Tel
Aviv, Israel' Consider NOT buying something labeled, 'Made in Ma'ale Adummim'? In this manner, consumers can decide for themselves whether to purchase goods from 'the territories'
or not? Goods labeled, 'Product of Palestine' or
'Made in Pal.' wud be exempt?..Aaron Allen...
Quit being cowards and allow democracy to flourish
I fall in line with the first commenter. By supporting a boycott, APN becomes associated with more extreme groups that don't necessarily benefit the peace effort.
Of course it is sensible to oppose a law making boycotts against the state or settlements illegal. But throwing support behind a boycott is another matter entirely.
There must be other ways to oppose this legislation. At the very least, maintain the moral high ground until a better opportunity to oppose it comes along.
I am a long term small donor to APN and I will continue to be. I have always tried to avoid buying goods produced at settlements, and Shalom Achshav's/APN's call now to publicly do so is not that big of a stretch. I have supported the peace movement in Israel for as long as I can remember. I will continue to stand by you, with pride and admiration.
Can you provide a list of products made in West Bank settlements?