Vol. 16, No.

16

October 10, 2016

American BDS Organization Takes Its Case to Capitol Hill

Dan Diker

US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation Banner

The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, a national coalition of American

Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions (BDS) organizations, will hold its annual conference
on October 14-17 in Arlington, Virginia.1 The conference will include a Lobby Day
on Capitol Hill targeting Members of Congress.

The US Campaign supports BDS and calls for Israel's destruction as a Jewish state.
Rather than opposing particular Israeli policies, it opposes Israel's very existence and
rejects a two-state solution.

The US Campaign leadership and key members support (and in some cases have
ties to) designated terrorist organizations and have a track record of violence and
incitement.

The policies of the BDS campaign adopted by the US Campaign have frequently
been described as discriminatory and anti-Semitic and may violate relevant antidiscrimination laws. Institutions facilitating the work of the US Campaign should
carefully consider the possible legal implications of this facilitation.

Members of Congress, regardless of their views on Israeli polices, should be wary of

meeting with representatives of an organization that calls for the destruction of a
U.S. ally, supports terror and violence, and promotes discriminatory and anti-Semitic
policies.

Introduction
The "US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation," a national coalition of anti-Israel
organizations, will hold its annual conference on October 14-17 in Arlington, Virginia.
The final day of the conference is designated as a congressional Lobby Day on Capitol
Hill, during which US Campaign members will be urged to meet with their
representatives to further the organization's agenda. The US Campaign is a pro-BDS
(Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) organization that denies the legitimacy of Israels
existence, demonizes the Jewish state, and calls for cutting all ties between the United
States and Israel. Its leadership and members are supporters of terror groups (in some
cases are tied to outlawed terror organizations) and have a record of violence.
Given the US Campaign's full-throated support for
the BDS campaign (which calls for the boycott of
Israeli academics, cultural figures, and businesses
based solely on their Israeli nationality), it is
possible that those who facilitate the
organization's work may run afoul of U.S. antidiscrimination and anti-BDS legislation. Members
of Congress might consider whether they wish to
provide an audience to members of a
discriminatory organization tied to terror and
violence.

Opposition to Israel's Existence and Calls for Its Destruction as a Jewish

State
The US Campaign was set up in the spring and summer of 2001 by activists looking to
end U.S. support for Israel in parallel to the wave of Palestinian suicide bombing

3
attacks against Israeli civilians known as the "Second Intifada." The coalition now
consists of several hundred anti-Israel organizations. Its work is overseen by an 11person Steering Committee and carried out by an eight-person staff.
According to the organization's website, "The US Campaign endorsed the Palestinian call
for BDS shortly after it was issued in July 2005. Academic and cultural boycotts were
endorsed in 2009." The BDS campaign which the US Campaign endorses and promotes
aims for the destruction of Israel as a Jewish state. In the words of the founder and most
prominent leader of the BDS campaign, Omar Barghouti, "Definitely, most definitely we
oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine."2 The BDS campaign also makes clear its
opposition to the U.S. policy of support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, with Barghouti declaring, "Going back to the two-state solution, besides having
passed its expiry date, it was never a moral solution to start with."3
The US Campaign's Co-founder and Director of
Organizing and Advocacy, Anna Baltzer, has
likewise declared that she is not opposed merely
to any supposed Israeli occupation but to the very
existence of Israel itself, explaining, "I recognized
that the problem was not simply occupation, but
rather the creation and maintenance of an ethnonationalist Jewish entity....I realized occupation
was just one step in a much longer process, and I
couldnt simply oppose one and not the other."4
While some BDS organizations including the US Campaign occasionally try to maintain
ambiguity as to whether their opposition is to Israel's existence or to its presence over
the Green Line, they make little real effort to hide their ultimate goals. One of the most
experienced and well-known anti-Israel figures in the United States, Norman Finkelstein,
criticized his fellow activists for occasionally trying to hide their true goals, insisting, "I
mean we have to be honest, and I loathe the disingenuousness. [The BDS activists] dont
want Israel. They think they are being very clever....You know and I know what the
result is. Theres no Israel!"5

Ending Diplomatic Ties between the United States and Israel Malaysia as
a Role Model
The US Campaign works to end U.S. military, diplomatic, financial, corporate, and all
other forms of support for Israel. Baltzer recently held up Malaysia as a role model for
the United States in this context. In a 2015 lecture, she opined, "Malaysia has been a
leader in having no diplomatic ties with Israel, which is extraordinary. In many ways
[Malaysia's] status quo is something that [we] dream about achieving in our context. It
is our holy grail."6

Support for and Ties to Terror and Violence

The US Campaign leadership and members have shown consistent support for (and ties
to) terrorism and a track record of violence and incitement. Baltzer flagrantly
whitewashes the terrorist activities of Fatahs Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, one of the most
violent Palestinian armed groups, which has been designated as a terrorist organization
by the United States, EU, and Canada. In a March 2007 article written from Nablus
meant to convey the "truth" about events in Palestine to American readers, Baltzer
claims, "Its worth noting that [Israeli] soldiers are the very targets of the wanted men,
not Israeli civilians. Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade plans attacks against armed fighters."7 In
truth, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades have carried out dozens of terror attacks targeting
Israeli citizens in Israeli cities within the pre-1967 lines, in which hundreds of civilians
have been murdered or injured. As just one example, on January 5, 2003, two Al-Aqsa
Martyrs Brigades suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the Tel Aviv Central Bus
Station, murdering 23 Israeli civilians and injuring over 100. In fact, less than three
months before Baltzer published her article, a Martyrs Brigades terrorist walked into a
bakery in the Israeli city of Eilat and blew himself up, murdering three Israeli civilians.
Baltzer, however, chose to unquestioningly convey the propaganda of a Martyrs
Brigades commander who claimed (after being asked by Baltzer whether he had a
message for the American people), "I am opposed to violence against any civilians,
whether they are Palestinian or Israeli, Muslim or Jewish."8
Baltzer is hardly alone in her support for terror and violence among the US Campaign
leadership and membership. US Campaign Steering Committee member Bekah Wolf is
married to convicted Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist Mousa Abu Maria. US Campaign
Steering Committee member Abe Greenhouse was charged in 2007 with criminal
mischief and unlawful possession of a weapon after he took part in an assault on a
couple and 64-year-old man in New Jersey, allegedly throwing steel cylinders and
shattering the rear window of the couple's vehicle.9 Greenhouse first gained notoriety
when he threw a pie in the face of former Soviet refusenik and Israeli minister Natan
Sharansky while Sharansky was delivering a lecture at Rutgers University in 2003.

US Campaigns Hamas-Supporting Partner

One of the "Member Groups in Good Standing for 2016" in the US Campaign is the
organization "American Muslims for Palestine" (AMP). In April 2016, former U.S.
Treasury terror finance analyst Dr. Jonathan Schanzer testified before Congress
regarding the numerous connections between AMP and three organizations that were
shut down or held civilly liable by the U.S. government for providing financial support to
the Hamas terrorist group.10 For example, the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) was
designated by the U.S. Treasury as a terrorist-supporting entity in 2001 for having
channeled approximately $12.4 million to Hamas. One of HLF's officers was identified by
Hamas' top official as "the Hamas leader for the U.S." While a number of HLF officials
fled the United States or were convicted, at least three have transferred to central

5
positions in AMP. Whether they are still involved via AMP in terror financing is
unknown. What is clear is that AMP has become one of the most significant funders of
the violent campus BDS group "Students for Justice in Palestine," providing money,
speakers, training, and even apartheid walls to SJP activists on campus.
This penchant for violence and terrorism extends
beyond the leadership of the US Campaign to the
invited guest speakers at its upcoming conference.
For example, one guest speaker is Abir Kopty, a
Christian Arab citizen of Israel, former member of
the city council of Nazareth, and BDS activist, who
in 2013 was investigated by the Israeli police for
incitement to violence. The investigation was
triggered by her call for the Christian Arab
organizer of a meeting to discuss Christian
enlistment in the Israel Defense Forces to be
defamed and branded as a "collaborator."11
Another session at the upcoming conference will
be led by Al-Haq, a Palestinian NGO headed by
Shawan Jabarin. Jabarin has admitted to being part
of the U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist organization Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine (PFLP). While he claims to have ended his PFLP connections during his student
years, the Israeli Supreme Court determined in 2007 that [Jabarin] is apparently active
as a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde....In part of his activities, he is the director of a human rights
organization, and in another part he is an activist in a terrorist organization which does
not shy away from acts of murder and attempted murder which have nothing to do with
rights, and on the contrary deny the most basic of all human rights...without which
there are no other rights the right to life.

BDS Discrimination and Anti-Semitism:

The BDS campaign calls for the boycott of Israeli academics, cultural figures, and
businesses, based solely on the criterion that they are Israeli. As such, it is widely seen
as being discriminatory. Furthermore, as BDS singles out and demonizes the world's only
Jewish state, and in practice often targets Jewish supporters of Israel,12 it has also
frequently been described as anti-Semitic. For that reason, thirteen U.S. states, as well
as Congress, have passed legislation aimed at combating BDS.13
The upcoming US Campaign BDS conference will take place at the Westin Arlington
Gateway hotel in Arlington, Virginia. The Virginia Human Rights Act explicitly declares
that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to "Safeguard all individuals within the
Commonwealth from unlawful discrimination because of race, color, religion, national

6
origin...in places of public accommodation." It further notes, "The provisions of this
chapter shall be construed liberally for the accomplishment of its policies."
The BDS conference will conclude with a Lobby Day on Capitol Hill. It should be noted as
well that the type of discrimination inherent in the BDS campaign is prohibited in
Washington, D.C., as well. The Washington, D.C. Human Rights Act states, "It is the
intent of the Council of the District of Columbia...to secure an end in the District of
Columbia to discrimination for any reason other than that of individual merit, including,
but not limited to, discrimination by reason of race, color, religion, national origin."

Conclusion
Due to the discriminatory and anti-Semitic nature of the BDS campaign, more and more
countries and states are taking concrete steps against it. As mentioned, 13 American
states have passed anti-BDS legislation; Congress has passed two pieces of anti-BDS
legislation and is considering several more. President Obama, as well as both the
Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, have strongly condemned efforts to
promote boycotts of Israel. Beyond the United States, anti-BDS legislation and legal
decisions have come into effect in the UK, France, and Spain, and bank accounts of BDS
organizations have been shut down in Germany, Austria, France, the UK, and Ireland.
Members of Congress, regardless of their stance regarding Israel's presence in the West
Bank, must carefully consider accepting requests to be lobbied by representatives of an
organization that calls for the destruction of a U.S. ally, supports terror and violence,
and promotes discriminatory and anti-Semitic policies.
***
Dan Diker is Director of the Political Warfare Project at the Jerusalem Center for Public
Affairs. A former director general of the World Jewish Congress, he is also a Research
Fellow, International Institute for Counter Terrorism at IDC, Herzliya.
***
Notes

http://www.endtheoccupation.org/

https://vimeo.com/75201955, at 5:53

https://electronicintifada.net/content/relative-humanity-fundamental-obstacle-one-state-solutionhistoric-palestine-12/4939

http://www.virtualmosque.com/society/international/an-interview-with-anna-baltzer/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iggdO7C70P8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDv5T1UqeBU, at 3:26

https://electronicintifada.net/content/nablus-invasion-diary-iii-resistance-hypocrisy-and-deadmen-walking/6806
8

It should be noted in addition that questions have been raised as to possible financial
irregularities relating to Baltzer's fundraising efforts for her BDS activities. While she appears to
solicit donations under the surname Baltzer, her legal name appears to be Anna Piller, and she
does not appear to have legally associated herself with the name Baltzer at any point.
9

http://www.newjerseyhills.com/mt_olive_chronicle/news/immigration-ralliescollide/article_2edd0b74-3219-58ca-be28-db611b693272.html
10

http://docs.house.gov/meetings/HM/HM05/20160512/104904/HHRG-114-HM05-WstateSchanzerJ-20160512.pdf
11

https://abirkopty.wordpress.com/2012/10/30/an-old-israeli-plan-resurrected-to-recruitpalestinian-christians-into-the-israeli-military/#more-1195
12

For example, in 2015, Jewish American singer Matisyahu had his invitation to perform at a
Spanish music festival rescinded following an intensive BDS campaign (although the invitation
was extended once again following an international outcry). Jewish-American college students
have frequently reported feeling threatened and uncomfortable due to aggressive anti-Israel
activity on campus.
13

In New York State, the anti-BDS measures have taken the form of an Executive Order.

This Jerusalem Issue Brief is available online at:

http://www.jcpa.org
Alan Baker, ICA Director; Lenny Ben-David, Managing Editor. Jerusalem Center for Public
Affairs (Registered Amuta), 13 Tel-Hai St., Jerusalem, Israel; Tel. 972-2-561-9281, Fax.
972-2-561-9112, Email: jcpa@netvision.net.il. In U.S.A.: Center for Jewish Community
Studies, 7 Church Lane, Suite 9, Baltimore, MD 21208; Tel. 410-653-7779; Fax 410-6538889. Website: www.jcpa.org. Copyright. The opinions expressed herein do not
necessarily reflect those of the Board of Fellows of the Jerusalem Center for Public
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