About the series: Adalah ("justice" in Arabic) is a diary series about the Middle East, with special (but not exclusive) emphasis on the Arab-Israeli conflict. The authors of this series believe in the right of self-determination for all the people of the Middle East and that a just resolution respecting the rights and dignity of both Palestinians and Israelis is the only viable option for peace. Our diaries will consist of news roundup and analysis. We invite you to discuss them in the comments or contribute with stories from the region which deserve attention. We ask only that you be respectful and that the number of meta comments be kept to a minimum. You can follow Adalah by clicking on the heart symbol on this page.
The events of the last several weeks in the Middle East have defied imagination. As a Palestinian who has struggled long for a better future for the region, I have found myself in tears of shock and elation as Arabs find their voice. Ahdaf Soueif, the Egyptian writer and political activist, commented on her observations of the transformations she witnessed among the Egyptian people.
I think what has happened here is that people have—they’ve found their voice, and they’ve found their personality. In other words, there is a definite sense that this regime had been not only robbing people of their country, but had been alienating people from their own personalities. And now they have found it. And you see people saying, "They told us we were divided. They told us we’re extreme. They told us we’re ignorant. But here we are, and we’re great." And this is why this is just not going to go away.
Palestinians have experienced a form of "finding our personality" with the adoption in 2005 of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. Long disillusioned by the charade peace process, disgusted by the traitors of the Palestinian Authority leadership (can't wait for the people to throw them out on their well-fed asses), and giving no hope that the U.S. will ever play honest broker in this conflict, Palestinian civil society organizations representing every corner of the Palestinian people joined together to call on the international community to support their nonviolent movement by imposing broad boycotts and implementing divestment initiatives against Israel, similar to those applied to South Africa in the apartheid era, until Israel abides by international law.
The underlying principle of BDS is this:
It is no longer denied that Israel has oppressed the Palestinian people for decades in multiple forms: occupying, colonizing, ethnically cleansing, racially discriminating, in short, denying Palestinians the fundamental rights for freedom, equality and self-determination. Despite abundant condemnation of Israel’s policies by the UN and all relevant international conventions, the international community of nations has failed to bring about Israel’s compliance with international law or its respect for basic human rights. Israel’s crimes have continued with utter impunity. The time has come for action, not just words. BDS are the most effective non-violent, morally consistent means for achieving justice and genuine peace in the region through concerted international pressure similar to that applied on South African apartheid.
BDS is not a boycott of the Jewish people, as some on this forum will try to assert. It is a nonviolent movement against Israeli laws and policies that violate international law. The Occupation is tearing Palestinian society apart as is evidenced by the recent report of 13 boys between the ages of 12 and 15 being kidnapped from a playground in the West Bank by Israeli occupation solidiers.
International supporters of the revolutions taking place in the Arab world have been asking how they can support these nonviolent movements. Palestinians have been clear in their answer to this question. Many in the United States have heeded this call and initiated BDS efforts. Among these efforts is a divestment campaign organized by the U.S. grassroots organization, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP).
JVP has launched a campaign calling on TIAA-CREF, the largest provider of retirement accounts in the country, to divest from companies complicit in the Israeli occupation. Nearly 20,000 people of conscience have already signed the petition to ask TIAA-CREF to stop investing in companies that profit from the Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Please join the call by signing the petition and if you are a TIAA-CREF shareholder, be sure to let JVP know. TIAA-CREF will give more weight to your support of this campaign.
Signing on is a first step. For those who would like to promote this campaign within their place of employment, university, or church, JVP is ready to help you with your efforts. You can message me or leave a comment in this diary.
The task is huge. We in the United States have a responsibility to show that we the people do not support our government's support of Israeli crimes against the Palestinians and that we respect the choices made by the Oppressed in how to wage their struggle.
This W.H. Murray quote challenges and encourages us:
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!
Palestinians protesting in 2005 against the Apartheid Separation Wall.
Let's do all we can to support efforts toward self-determination, freedom and equality. Arabs have found their voice, and they are chanting "Salmiyya, salmiyya" (peacefully, peacefully). Please add your voice and actions to support the Palestinian nonviolent movement by promoting BDS in your communities. BE BOLD!