Anti-BDS Legislation: Anti-Speech or Anti-Hate? - Column 5
Written by Lana Melman for the SOUTH FLORIDA JEWISH JOURNAL / SUN SENTINEL. Originally published on June 21, 2023.
During my trip to London this past March, British MP Bob Blackman graciously invited me to speak to members of the British-Israel All-Party Parliamentary Group about the cultural boycott campaign against Israel.
The campaign demonizes the Jewish homeland and creates an environment that makes Jew-hatred more acceptable. It falsely accuses Israel of crimes against humanity and calls for its destruction.
An advocate for Jewish students facing antisemitism on UK university campuses, Blackman has also been part of several delegations to Israel. The session, held in a crowded conference room with 35-40 attentive MPs and staffers, was especially timely.
There is legislation circulating in Parliament that will ban public bodies, including local municipalities, higher education institutions, and publicly funded cultural institutions from boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) activity against foreign states or territories. The goal is twofold: to assure that the central government is the only body to set foreign policy and to promote community cohesion.
The bill is expected to be presented to Parliament soon and is subject to negotiation and review, but the potential to tamp down anti-BDS activity and growing antisemitism is real.
Several countries have already passed anti-BDS laws or resolutions including Germany, Austria, Canada, and the Netherlands. As of 2021, 35 states in the US have passed bills and executive orders designed to discourage boycotts of Israel, often with broad bipartisan support. While some legislation requires government contractors to promise that they are not boycotting Israel, other legislation, such as this one, focuses on public funding. In February 2022, the UK Parliament amended existing legislation to stop local pension funds from backing BDS sanctions against British companies doing business with Israel.
During our discussion, an MP raised concerns about the bill’s impact on freedom of expression. Thanks to Bob Blackman, I had the opportunity to offer my perspective.
First, I spoke about the UK’s moral leadership in the democratic world. Demonization of Israel stirs up antisemitic sentiment and the UK is right to protect its Jewish citizens.
Second, I pointed out that the anti-Israel BDS movement is a censorship and intimidation campaign. It is adamantly opposed to cultural exchange with Israel or bridging of differences through the arts.
BDS goes beyond political advocacy and crosses the line into intimidation. International entertainers who want to perform in Israel face threats to their careers, their reputations, and sometimes even their lives from BDS supporters.
For example, Sarah McTernan, Ireland’s contestant in the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest held in Israel, said that she had received terrifying threats and abusive messages both during and after the competition – hundreds and hundreds of them, “freaking” her out. Sinister notes contained threats such as, “Watch where you go,” “You never know where I’ll be,” and “Be careful who you’re with.”
BDS hounds international venues to rescind invitations, humiliates Israeli artists, and intimidates audiences. There are calls for cancellations, disrupted performances, and concerns about physical violence.
When Israeli jazz artist Daniel Zamir performed in South Africa at Wits University in Johannesburg, protesters cries of “Shoot the Jew!” rang out on campus like the shouts of a lynch mob. The 2018 performance of the IPO in Morocco was not publicized beforehand to protect the IPO members from harm.
Third, it is hypocritical, to say the least, for BDS activists to grouse about the lack of public funding for their freedom of expression when they seek to deny freedom of expression to others.
Towards the end of the meeting, a young staffer said he was conflicted because he and his friends were concerned about the plight of the Palestinians.
“I am too,” I responded, “but how is BDS helping them? BDS has been around for 20 years and has unleashed untold hate against Jews. Can you think of one thing it has done to improve the lives of the Palestinian people?”
He couldn’t think of a thing.
Before we adjourned, I gifted him a copy of my book, Artists Under Fire: The BDS War against Celebrities, Jews, and Israel.
I hope that the UK takes this meaningful step in the fight against both internal and global antisemitism. I am deeply grateful to Bob Blackman for the opportunity to be heard.
Read the original article here: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2023/06/21/reflections-with-lana-melman-anti-bds-legislation-anti-speech-or-anti-hate/
As of June 27, 2023: The penalties for non-compliance have not yet been specified.
Lana Melman is a contributing columnist for the South Florida Jewish Journal.