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BDS : boycott, divestment, sanctions : the global struggle for Palestinian rights by Omar Barghouti
candelibri's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Very dense material but necessary. Those who have a basic understanding will be able to grasp the concepts herein but I would not suggest this as an intro text
bookishmillennial's review
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This is a really helpful primer on why you should support the BDS movement. It is incredibly informative, provides historical context, and action steps for the world to end the occupation.
The BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) Call, launched in July 2005, was endorsed by an overwhelming majority of Palestinian civil society unions, political parties, and organizations everywhere. Rooted in a long tradition of nonviolent popular resistance in Palestine against Zionist settler-colonialism1 and largely inspired by the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, it adopts a rights-based approach that is anchored in universal human rights, just as the US civil rights movement did. It resolutely rejects all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
The BDS campaign is among the most important forms of such “resolute struggle” by the great majority of Palestinians, who resist the colonization of their land and minds and demand nothing less than self-determination, freedom, justice, and unmitigated equality. The BDS Call, anchored in international law and universal principles of human rights, adopts a comprehensive rights-based approach, underlining the fact that for the Palestinian people to exercise its right to self-determination, Israel must end its three forms of injustice that infringe international law and Palestinian rights by:
1. ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands [occupied in 1967] and dismantling the wall
2. recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality
3. respecting, protecting, and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties, as stipulated in UN Resolution 194
As South African archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu once said: “I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Medical trauma, Murder, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Violence, and War
boritabletennis's review
4.0
Very informative and accessible read on the history and reasoning of the BDS Movement. Barghouti makes clear why heeding the BDS Call is a litmus test for all who would claim to champion equality, justice, and dignity for all peoples. He also narrates the various successes of the BDS Movement in helping to turn the tide on the question of Palestine and explains the coalitionary potential that, together with its ethical integrity, lies at the root of Israel's aggressive (yet wonderfully futile) efforts to quash it.
https://bdsmovement.net/what-is-bds
https://bdsmovement.net/what-is-bds
jiujensu's review
5.0
Explains the conflict as well as the BDS movement. I would say all the questions one could have about the movement are answered and a compelling case is made for BDS. Apartheid and genocide as well as the asymmetry issue are discussed as well as objections to the terms and why they actually do apply.
I frequently see people calling on both sides and calling for both sides to make concessions and negotiate. I myself have always felt something was wrong with that, but haven't always been able to explain clearly why. This book (certain chapters) does exactly that.
Another issue that was helpful for me was the discussion on "dialogue." I have always felt that any time the two are talking and participating in events together, that it was always a positive. He brings up the point that unless the sides acknowledge the injustice and oppose occupation and agree that full equality and repatriation/return/compensation of Palestinians is the goal (as these for Israeli Jews are a given), the event whitewashes the crimes.
Chapter 3 explains a lot about the conflict and 3 main groups Israel is committing crimes against - refugees, Israeli citizens, occupied Palestinians. It contains specific examples, which could be eye opening for some.
Chapter 12 is an interview and it contains answers to very commonly asked questions and criticisms leveled of/at the movement. It also discussed apartheid and injustices of Israeli Palestinians (Jewish nationality excludes some citizens, etc).
Definitely a book to add to your "Understanding the Middle East Conflict" shelf, list, etc.
I frequently see people calling on both sides and calling for both sides to make concessions and negotiate. I myself have always felt something was wrong with that, but haven't always been able to explain clearly why. This book (certain chapters) does exactly that.
Another issue that was helpful for me was the discussion on "dialogue." I have always felt that any time the two are talking and participating in events together, that it was always a positive. He brings up the point that unless the sides acknowledge the injustice and oppose occupation and agree that full equality and repatriation/return/compensation of Palestinians is the goal (as these for Israeli Jews are a given), the event whitewashes the crimes.
Chapter 3 explains a lot about the conflict and 3 main groups Israel is committing crimes against - refugees, Israeli citizens, occupied Palestinians. It contains specific examples, which could be eye opening for some.
Chapter 12 is an interview and it contains answers to very commonly asked questions and criticisms leveled of/at the movement. It also discussed apartheid and injustices of Israeli Palestinians (Jewish nationality excludes some citizens, etc).
Definitely a book to add to your "Understanding the Middle East Conflict" shelf, list, etc.
dawshah's review
No rating because I read this for research for a project i’m working on. Still highly recommend this to anyone interested in learning about the BDS movement and the context of its creation. Some chapters where Omar Barghouti included interviews were repetitive, but overall really good book that I enjoyed reading!
cruelspirit's review
4.0
After hearing about the BDS movement through US efforts to limit citizen's participation in it I wanted to learn more about what makes it so "Controversial". This was a well crafted argument that delivers a clear strategy and expectation for the movement. It really helped that I recently read Pedagogy of the Oppressed as Barghouti draws a lot from it. It was interesting to learn about the early years of the BDS movement but a lot has changed culturally in the last decade that has influenced the public opinion on the movement.
itsjunghan's review
4.0
[4 stars] A good primer on the Palestinian civil society call for boycotts, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against the Israeli government. Compiled as a series of essays, so there is a lot of repetition; because of this, it actually reads pretty quickly, when you consider being able to skim through most of the middle. Doesn't provide a ton of in-depth info on the pre-1948 - or even pre-1967 - history of the Israeli settler project so you'll want to read about that elsewhere. Grateful to Haymarket for making this ebook free in the midst of the current violence.