It is very telling when Israel labels the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement as a strategic threat to its interest, on par with the perceived threat from Iran. It means that after decades of conflict, the Palestine solidarity movement has successfully devised an effective method of resistance that does not require a single drop of blood to be shed. It has, in effect, silenced those who had labelled members of the resistance movement as blood thirsty and vengeful savages.
It is, therefore, astounding that anyone who claims to want peace and justice for the Palestinians would oppose moves to hurt Israel economically until it changes its ways. Israel’s allies in the West forbade the Palestinians from engaging in violent resistance under the pretext that only nonviolent means could bring an end to its brutal occupation of Palestine. What, then, is their excuse now? And what means, then, are the Palestinians permitted to use to resist Israel’s barbarity?
The growing boycott movement should also serve as a wakeup-call to Arab states that continue to engage with international companies complicit in Israel’s occupation that are slowly turning into pariahs in Europe and beyond. While major complicit firms are losing contracts at the cost of billions of dollars in Europe, they are being welcomed with open arms in Arab countries, particularly in the rail sector. Arab states should not allow themselves to be left behind as the rest of the world advances in justice for the Palestinians. Boycott Israel. Institutionalise BDS in the Gulf.