Israel makes budget allocation to counter boycott of colonists

Ramallah: Israel is set to allocate 100 million shekels (Dh94.84 million) to the fight to counter the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement (BDS) campaign. The BDS movement is an international effort to boycott Israel in a variety of ways until it complies with international law and begins to acknowledge the rights of Palestinians.

The Israeli news source ynet has revealed that the funds to oppose BDS are to come from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and suggested that Strategic Affairs and Information Minister Gilad Erdan reckoned that contributions from Jewish and pro-Israel organisations could see the amount raised swell to 300 million shekels.

The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel was initiated by Palestinian civil society in 2005.

The BDS movement website states that it has as its aims Israel “ending its occupation and colonisation of all Arab lands occupied in June 1967 and dismantling the Wall; recognising the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality and respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.”