Call your Congressional Reps: Ask them to Co-sponsor H.Res 246

H.Res 246 is a new  Congressional resolution with wide bipartisan support.  The resolution  condemns the anti-semitic, anti-peace BDS tactic, and reaffirms Congressional support for a negotiated peace agreement between Israel and her neighbors.

There are currently 198 co-sponsors.   If your Congressional Representative isn't listed here, call them and ask them to co-sponsor the resoultion.  If they are already here, call and thank them.

Current Co-sponsors:

Rep. Zeldin, Lee M. [R-NY-1]* 03/21/2019
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10]* 03/21/2019
Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]* 03/21/2019
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3] 03/25/2019
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-30] 03/25/2019
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-23] 03/25/2019
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] 03/25/2019
Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17] 03/25/2019
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] 03/25/2019
Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4] 03/25/2019
Rep. Luria, Elaine G. [D-VA-2] 03/25/2019
Rep. Meadows, Mark [R-NC-11] 03/25/2019
Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20] 03/25/2019
Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-17] 03/25/2019
Rep. Brindisi, Anthony [D-NY-22] 03/25/2019
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-7] 03/25/2019
Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5] 03/25/2019
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] 03/25/2019
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] 03/25/2019
Rep. Hill, Katie [D-CA-25] 03/25/2019
Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22] 03/25/2019
Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21] 03/25/2019
Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12] 03/25/2019
Rep. Watkins, Steve [R-KS-2] 03/27/2019
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-15] 03/27/2019
Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5] 03/27/2019
Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3] 03/27/2019
Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8] 03/27/2019
Rep. Spano, Ross [R-FL-15] 03/27/2019
Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12] 03/27/2019
Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5] 03/27/2019
Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18] 03/27/2019
Rep. Budd, Ted [R-NC-13] 03/27/2019
Rep. Wright, Ron [R-TX-6] 03/27/2019
Rep. Walden, Greg [R-OR-2] 03/27/2019
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] 03/27/2019
Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16] 03/27/2019
Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26] 03/27/2019
Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-18] 03/27/2019
Rep. Brooks, Mo [R-AL-5] 03/27/2019
Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3] 03/27/2019
Rep. Banks, Jim [R-IN-3] 03/27/2019
Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] 03/27/2019
Rep. Peterson, Collin C. [D-MN-7] 03/27/2019
Rep. Johnson, Bill [R-OH-6] 03/27/2019
Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2] 03/27/2019
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] 03/27/2019
Rep. Gallagher, Mike [R-WI-8] 03/27/2019
Rep. Gibbs, Bob [R-OH-7] 03/27/2019
Rep. King, Peter T. [R-NY-2] 03/27/2019
Rep. Bishop, Rob [R-UT-1] 03/27/2019
Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5] 03/27/2019
Rep. Tipton, Scott R. [R-CO-3] 03/27/2019
Rep. Katko, John [R-NY-24] 03/27/2019
Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13] 03/27/2019
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] 03/27/2019
Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35] 03/27/2019
Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4] 03/27/2019
Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] 03/27/2019
Rep. Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL-3] 03/27/2019
Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12] 03/27/2019
Rep. Rose, Max [D-NY-11] 03/27/2019
Rep. Shalala, Donna E. [D-FL-27] 03/27/2019
Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14] 03/27/2019
Rep. Luetkemeyer, Blaine [R-MO-3] 03/27/2019
Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10] 03/27/2019
Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5] 03/27/2019
Rep. Holding, George [R-NC-2] 03/27/2019
Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16] 03/27/2019
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] 03/28/2019
Rep. Posey, Bill [R-FL-8] 03/28/2019
Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5] 03/28/2019
Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [D-NJ-2] 03/28/2019
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6] 03/28/2019
Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1] 03/28/2019
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] 03/28/2019
Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7] 03/28/2019
Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-52] 03/29/2019
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] 03/29/2019
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-21] 03/29/2019
Rep. Flores, Bill [R-TX-17] 03/29/2019
Rep. Comer, James [R-KY-1] 03/29/2019
Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-16] 03/29/2019
Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2] 04/01/2019
Rep. Allred, Colin Z. [D-TX-32] 04/01/2019
Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2] 04/01/2019
Rep. Davis, Rodney [R-IL-13] 04/01/2019
Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3] 04/01/2019
Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16] 04/01/2019
Rep. Lamb, Conor [D-PA-17] 04/01/2019
Rep. Reschenthaler, Guy [R-PA-14] 04/01/2019
Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6] 04/01/2019
Rep. Trone, David J. [D-MD-6] 04/01/2019
Rep. Long, Billy [R-MO-7] 04/01/2019
Rep. Thornberry, Mac [R-TX-13] 04/01/2019
Rep. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA-28] 04/01/2019
Rep. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3] 04/01/2019
Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1] 04/01/2019
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] 04/01/2019
Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25] 04/01/2019
Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-32] 04/01/2019
Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] 04/01/2019
Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-6] 04/01/2019
Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] 04/01/2019
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-27] 04/01/2019
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-20] 04/01/2019
Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1] 04/02/2019
Rep. Collins, Chris [R-NY-27] 04/02/2019
Rep. Gianforte, Greg [R-MT-At Large] 04/02/2019
Rep. Higgins, Brian [D-NY-26] 04/02/2019
Rep. Crist, Charlie [D-FL-13] 04/02/2019
Rep. Riggleman, Denver [R-VA-5] 04/02/2019
Rep. Stivers, Steve [R-OH-15] 04/02/2019
Rep. Malinowski, Tom [D-NJ-7] 04/02/2019
Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] 04/02/2019
Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3] 04/02/2019
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] 04/02/2019
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] 04/02/2019
Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7] 04/02/2019
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17] 04/02/2019
Rep. Kim, Andy [D-NJ-3] 04/02/2019
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6] 04/02/2019
Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large] 04/02/2019
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5] 04/02/2019
Rep. Sires, Albio [D-NJ-8] 04/03/2019
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] 04/03/2019
Rep. Taylor, Van [R-TX-3] 04/03/2019
Rep. Spanberger, Abigail Davis [D-VA-7] 04/03/2019
Rep. Schrader, Kurt [D-OR-5] 04/03/2019
Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2] 04/03/2019
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-33] 04/03/2019
Rep. Cardenas, Tony [D-CA-29] 04/03/2019
Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-15] 04/03/2019
Rep. Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA-18] 04/03/2019
Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] 04/03/2019
Rep. Finkenauer, Abby [D-IA-1] 04/03/2019
Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3] 04/03/2019
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25] 04/03/2019
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4] 04/03/2019
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41] 04/03/2019
Rep. Cunningham, Joe [D-SC-1] 04/03/2019
Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4] 04/04/2019
Rep. Abraham, Ralph Lee [R-LA-5] 04/04/2019
Rep. Weber, Randy K., Sr. [R-TX-14] 04/04/2019
Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-9] 04/04/2019
Rep. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI-8] 04/04/2019
Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8] 04/04/2019
Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] 04/04/2019
Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11] 04/04/2019
Rep. Brady, Kevin [R-TX-8] 04/04/2019
Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] 04/04/2019
Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11] 04/04/2019
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2] 04/04/2019
Rep. Smith, Jason [R-MO-8] 04/04/2019
Rep. Mast, Brian J. [R-FL-18] 04/04/2019
Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6] 04/04/2019
Rep. Mooney, Alexander X. [R-WV-2] 04/04/2019
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] 04/04/2019
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2] 04/04/2019
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4] 04/04/2019
Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3] 04/04/2019
Rep. Armstrong, Kelly [R-ND-At Large] 04/04/2019
Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6] 04/04/2019
Rep. Mucarsel-Powell, Debbie [D-FL-26] 04/04/2019
Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34] 04/08/2019
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] 04/08/2019
Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9] 04/08/2019
Rep. Walker, Mark [R-NC-6] 04/08/2019
Rep. Herrera Beutler, Jaime [R-WA-3] 04/08/2019
Rep. Delgado, Antonio [D-NY-19] 04/08/2019
Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11] 04/08/2019
Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-3] 04/08/2019
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] 04/08/2019
Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] 04/08/2019
Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3] 04/08/2019
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] 04/08/2019
Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53] 04/08/2019
Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12] 04/08/2019
Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6] 04/08/2019
Rep. Horn, Kendra S. [D-OK-5] 04/08/2019
Rep. Cox, TJ [D-CA-21] 04/08/2019
Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9] 04/08/2019
Rep. McHenry, Patrick T. [R-NC-10] 04/08/2019
Rep. Ratcliffe, John [R-TX-4] 04/08/2019
Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12] 04/10/2019
Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] 04/10/2019
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15] 04/10/2019
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] 04/10/2019
Rep. O'Halleran, Tom [D-AZ-1] 04/10/2019
Rep. Collins, Doug [R-GA-9] 04/10/2019
Rep. Sanchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] 04/10/2019
Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4] 04/10/2019
Rep. Brown, Anthony G. [D-MD-4] 04/10/2019
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2] 04/10/2019
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] 04/10/2019
Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19] 04/10/2019
Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8] 04/10/2019
Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40] 04/10/2019

Add your voice here

In other BDS News: SodaStream shares skyrocket on 'most successful quarter' ever

Doug Henwood, writing for Mondoweiss (no, I don't link to hate-sites) once asked the question  SodaStream: is BDS hitting where it hurts?

The answer is a resounding NO.

The Israel-based company, the subject to BDS ire for daring to promote peaceful co-existence and engagement said sales of sparkling water makers increased 22 percent, to over 1 million during the quarter.   Sales of gas refill units grew 17 percent, to a record 9.7 million.

This week, SodaStream stock rose 26 % after its successful earnings report.

  

According to Investors Business Daily:

Profit spiked 78% to $1.14 a share on 31% revenue growth to $171 million, according to Zacks Investment Research. SodaStream earnings and sales crushed consensus for 71 cents a share and $149 million. It was the fourth straight quarter of accelerating sales growth.

The stock had its best day in over two years.

Empirical Evidence of BDS fail

In a note to investors SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum wrote  "We are extremely pleased to be reporting the most successful quarter in our Company's history" 

New BDS fail at Trader Joes

Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines from the Givon Winery in Israel are now available at everyone's favorite grocery store, Trader Joes's.

Can you say  "BDS fail."?  I know you can.

Not only has Trader Joe's added 2 new Israel products to their line, check out how they are promoted.

Yes, thats a tiny Israeli flag!

Israeli Economy Ranked 3rd Most Stable in the World

How that BDS working for you?

After 16 years of Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions directed towards the only democracy in the Middle East, you'd think you'd be seeing some concrete results.

Ummmm. No.

Israel's low unemployment rate, low inflation rate and reputation for innovation have earned it the rank of third most stable economy in the world by the Bloomberg Finance. Only Hong Kong and South Korea ranked higher.

Imagine if all that wasted energy directed towards bringing the Israeli economy to its knees was channeled instead towards building a real and lasting peace?

Read more about the abject failure of BDS here:

Bloomberg ranks Israel with third most stable economy in 2016

The Israeli Economy’s Got Intel Inside

Israeli Economy Ranked 3rd Most Stable in the World for 2016

Breaking News! New York State divests from BDS

At a speech at the Harvard Club in Manhattan, New York Governor. Andrew M. Cuomo signed an executive order, directing  agencies under his control on Sunday to divest themselves of companies and organizations aligned with the BDS movement against Israel.

“We cannot allow that to happen,” the governor said, adding that, “If you boycott against Israel, New York will boycott you.”

From the twitter account of Gov.Cuomo:

I’m proud to sign this nation’s leading executive order, which will help protect Israel from threat of divestment. https://t.co/K4irMQbv23

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 5, 2016

Today's Executive Order directs state entities to divest all public funds supporting the BDS campaign against Israel pic.twitter.com/rCRXXN2uIv

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 5, 2016

New York stands in solidarity with Israel today and always. Photos from today's EO signing: https://t.co/mp78LCiNXT pic.twitter.com/0E377IhodW

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 5, 2016

Full statement from the Governors office:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today issued Executive Order No. 157 directing state entities to divest all public funds supporting the Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel. The first-in-the-nation action will ensure that no state agency or authority engages in or promotes any investment activity that would further the harmful and discriminatory Palestinian-backed Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign in New York State. The Governor made the announcement at the Celebrate Israel Parade.

“New York stands in solidarity with Israel today and always. This state will not stand for the politics of discrimination in any form, and we will continue to demonstrate our unwavering support for the people of Israel in the fight for freedom, liberty and democracy,” Governor Cuomo said. “I’m proud to sign this nation’s leading executive order, which will help protect Israel from the threat of divestment. This order sends the message that this state will do everything in its power to end this hateful, intolerant campaign. New York and Israel share an unbreakable bond and I pray that the Israeli and Palestinian people will find a way to live side by side and find peace, prosperity and security.”

Thank you, Governor Cuomo, for that brave and principled stand.

BDS: A new face on an old hate

Throwback Thursday.

BDS- boycotts, divestment and sanctions against the world’s only Jewish State are nothing new, and are not related to the "occupation"-  but against the very existence of Israel, within any borders.

From the Saturday Evening Post, Dec 27 1947  spoken by Salel Jabur, Prime Minister of Iraq

“What is it”, he asked me, that Americans want?” If it is a safe home for the Jews, that cannot be found in Palestine for Palestine is in the heart of the Arab world. We surround it. How shall a Jewish state live there?”

We will boycott it, give it no foods or raw materials, buy nothing from it. We will squeeze it in a ring of steel until it dies and our heart is ours again”

In other BDS fail news....

In other BDS  fail news...

*  Georgia has passed anti-BDS legislation this week. The bill sponsor, Georgia Sen. Judson Hill declared it  “a critical step forward in defending Georgia’s state economy and public policy” and referred to it as “taking a stand against the anti-Semitism and discrimination of the BDS movement.”

 It is the sixth state to pass such legislation, joining South Carolina, Illinois, Florida, Arizona and Colorado.  21 states are currently debating anti-BDS legislation, including California.

Anti-Israel groups are so alarmed by this new  and unexpected battlefront that both JVP and American Muslims for Palestine have hired coordinators to influence legislative policy. 

*  From the Times of Israel: Good news about the Israeli economy

In 2015, foreign direct investment in Israel totaled $11.6 billion dollars – a 90% increase over 2014, when $6.7 billion was invested from overseas.

This remarkable increase in foreign investment represents an overwhelming vote of confidence in the Israeli economy, and rightly so. In spite of the global recession of the last decade, Israel’s economy saw consistent GDP growth, above even that of the OECD and the United States. To boot, Israel’s unemployment rate hovers around 5% – among the world’s lowest.

* A local blogger has documented many examples of BDS fails within the Bay area, including multiple sightings of Zim containers.  (What? Could Block the Boat have lied about their "success" in ridding Oakland of the scourge of  Israeli-associated shipping? )

  
The current  proliferation of Zim containers locally hasn't escaped the watchful eyes of the BDS holes, either

Universities rejecting BDS this month include: 
U Minnesota Capital U U Indianapolis Ohio State Northeastern

Even with so many tangible successes, there is still much work to be done.

From the Algemeiner, written by Roz Rothstein and Yitzhak Santis

Despite Impressive Victories Against BDS, the Battle Is Not Won

Complacency, however, is not an option. There is something to be said about the publicity these BDS debates generate. The loud and antagonistic disputes inject vicious anti-Israel propaganda into campus communities, often creating a hostile and unsafe environment for Jewish and pro-Israel students — and poisoning uniformed minds about Israel.

The struggle against BDS is not yet won. Education about the complex Middle East reality must be continued on North American campuses to combat the lies and misrepresentations of the BDS movement.

The road ahead is long and difficult, but the pro-Israel struggle against BDS will prevail if we continue to turn myths and libels into truth for an unsuspecting public.

The real lesson is that when we fight back, we win.

Oh, Canada! Canada overwhelmingly condemns BDS

By a vote of 229-51, Canada's Parliament passed an historic motion condemning the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.  Both Liberals and Conservatives supported the measure and called on the Canadian government to "condemn any and all attempts by Canadian organizations, groups or individuals to promote the BDS movement, both here at home and abroad." The motion also noted Canada and Israel’s “long history of friendship as well as economic and diplomatic relations.”

From CIJ News:

On February 18, during the debate on the motion urging the House to reject BDS, Michael Levitt, Liberal candidate for the riding of York Centre, pointed out that “BDS is about intolerance. It’s a broader movement to demonize and delegitimize Israel, and to collectively punish all Israelis by holding Israel alone responsible for the Arab-Israeli conflict”.

“Whereas anti-Semites have long targeted Jews throughout the world as the root of all society’s ills, this new form of anti-Semitism targets Israel as the Jew among the nations, singling out the Jewish State as the root of all ills in the world”, he continued.

Levitt also called attention to the Ottawa Protocol on Combating Anti-Semitism, passed by the previous Conservative government in 2010, which recognized anti-Semitism as a pernicious evil and a global threat against the Jewish people, the State of Israel and free, democratic countries everywhere. Levitt said the Protocol is instructive in identifying anti-Semitism that is pervasive within the BDS movement. “Denying the Jewish people the right to self-determination, for example, by claiming that the existence of Israel is a racist endeavour – that is anti-Semitism. Applying double standards by requiring of Israel behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation – that is anti-Semitism. Using the symbols or images of classic anti-Semitism to characterize Israel or Israelis – that is anti-Semitism. Drawing comparison of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis – that is anti-Semitism. Holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the government of Israel – that is anti-Semitism.” 

Expecting a "Even when we lose, we win" statement from Team BDS any minute now.

Backlash: American Colleges Fight back against the Ugliness of BDS

In spite of the BDS movement, or perhaps in part because of it, US and Israeli schools are forging close and lasting academic and research ties.
Some example via the AIPAC NewsHub:  U.S. College Campuses Forge Close Ties with Israel
Cornell University: In 2011, Cornell University and The Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, announced a new partnership to create a world-class applied science and engineering campus in New York City. 

“By joining forces in this groundbreaking venture, our two great universities will employ our demonstrated expertise, experience and track record of transforming new ideas into solutions to create the global avenues of economic opportunity and tech leadership,” said Cornell President David Skorton.

Today, the Jacobs Institute builds on the shared strengths of the two institutions in research, entrepreneurialism, intellectual rigor and drive. Joint activities include dual master’s degree programs and faculty, graduate student and industry interactions.

University of Chicago: In 2013, the University of Chicago and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev signed an agreement to begin exploring a research partnership that would create new water production and purification technologies for deployment in regions of the globe where fresh water resources are scarce. 

“BGU has been at the forefront of advanced basic and applied water-related research for more than four decades and has developed a number of innovative technologies in the field,” said Ben-Gurion President Rivka Carmi. “The collaboration with UChicago will result in the development of new technologies for the benefit of people all over the world.”

“Such large-scale problems must be met by solutions developed from a comprehensive and integrated science and technology base of the type we will establish between the University of Chicago and Ben-Gurion University,” said University of Chicago President Robert J. Zimmer.

Among a range of activities, today Ben-Gurion’s Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research benefits from researchers from both institutions who carry out interdisciplinary, cutting-edge research in hydrology and water engineering.

University of California, Irvine: In 2013, UC Irvine strengthened ties with Israel through agreements of collaboration with some of Israel’s most prestigious universities. Memoranda of understanding or agreement were signed with Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and Tel Aviv University.

The Israeli universities were referred to by Chancellor Michael Drake as “natural partners” with UC Irvine because of cultural and demographic similarities, and their well-respected science programs.

Texas A & M University: In 2013, Texas A & M reached an agreement with the Israeli government for the creation of a satellite campus known as ‘Texas A & M University at Nazareth – Peace Campus.’ The signed agreement called for a campus that enrolls a mixture of Jewish, Arab and international students. The announcement was made at the residence of then President of Israel, Shimon Peres, along with Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp.

Read it all here

Israel Cultural Boycott fail

One visit to beautiful, diverse Israel and you know the rhetoric is a lie. Jews, Muslims and Christians eat together in the same restaurants, go to the same movies together, and wait in the same interminably long lines at the post office together.  There is no "separation" and there is no apartheid.

To perpetuate the lie, its important to keep people from seeing the truth themselves. To this end, the cultural boycott of Israel politicizes art and music , and anti-Israel activists expend considerable resources spamming and the social media accounts of performers scheduled to play in Israel.

Hows that cultural boycott going?

Scheduled to perform in Israel in the coming months

Julio Iglesias Concert in Tel Aviv, Israel. May 7, 2016
Enrico Macias in Tel Aviv, Israel. May 17, 2016
Deep Purple in Tel Aviv, Israel. May 22, 2016
The musical, Thriller Live in Tel Aviv, Israel. May 19-24, 2016
Elton John to Perform in Tel Aviv, Israel. May 26, 2016
Brian Wilson in Tel Aviv, Israel. June 8, 2016
Simply Red in Tel Aviv, Israel. June 14, 2016
Foreigner Concerts in Caesarea, Israel. June 14 & 15, 2016
Megadeth in Tel Aviv, Israel. July 2, 2016
Tame Impala in Tel Aviv, Israel. July 11, 2016
The Scorpions Concert in Tel Aviv, Israel. July 14, 2016
Mercury Rev in Tel Aviv, Israel. July 20, 2016
Enrique Iglesias in Tel Aviv, Israel. December 16 & 22, 2015

Bon Jovi.  Jennifer Lopez. Bruce Springsteen.  Beyonce and Kanye West are also expected in Israel later this year.

Sounds like a great big BDS fail to me.

Grape Expectations. BDS Wine club

This will have the BDS holes ...whining....

In fighting boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel,  truth and history are the most important weapons in our arsenal. The Buycott is also a hugely effective technique- the collective economic power of the pro-Israel community  made short work of the campaign against Trader Joes, and the specialty grocer was never bothered again.

Buycotts empower consumers, and enable us to support our families and friends in Israel, without resorting to the ugliness of our opponents tactics.

In that spirit, check out the BDS Wine Club, featuring fine wines from the biblical heartland of Israel- Judea and Samaria. In spite of the BDS battle cry of "Occupation", Jews have been making wine in this area for thousands of years.  Regardless of your feelings regarding "settlements", the issue is a red herring. The organizers of the BDS movement have repeated admitted that they will not accept a Jewish state within any borders.

Order now and have your wines delivered before Pesach. Like 'em on Facebook

Online Guide to BDS

Planning on boycotting the worlds only Jewish state?  If you are going to boycott Israel, do it right. Check out the new online BDS Guide- just not on Google Chrome

Don't use Facebook, either.

 

Are you using Google or Bing for your searches? Stop that right now.

Be sure to take the BDS quiz. Just how much do you know about BDS?

My score ?

Your Ranking: BDS IQ: Amazing

BDS: Failing for 13 years.

Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) have been a failing tactic since it was first introduced at Durban in 2001. By any objective measure, the economy of Israel is booming.  Investment in Israel flourishes. Israeli bond ratings remain high   A-list entertainers have continued to visit Israel,  both for personal travel and to perform before appreciative crowds.

If you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door.  Israel has consistently built a better mousetrap, and innovations in water saving technology,  defense technology, medicine and cyber-security  will keep the Israeli economy robust for years to come.

"Then why", the BDs'ers ask, "Why do you fight us if we are not a threat?"

I'd answer simply, in the words of  Thomas Paine's "It is an  affront to truth to treat falsehood with complaisance"

But our friends at Divest this! have a much better answer. In the comments section of the post  the Israeli Economy-Security Dialectic , the blogger is also asked (Why) " If BDS is almost constantly failing, that we should therefore concern ourselves with it?"

The response  nails it:

You’re not the first person to ask why we should concerns ourselves with BDS given that, as you point out, I spend so much time documenting is failures. To which I’ve responded: 

(1) BDS (as we’ve seen) can make progress if enough good people don’t stand up to fight against it (which is why I spend time helping those engaged with this fight);

(2) The goal of the BDS propaganda campaign is to convince others that the Israel = Apartheid propaganda message is embraced by broad swaths of society (especially progressive society) rather than being the opinion of a tiny, unrepresentative fringe. So, by that very formula, highlighting when they get rejected by progressive individuals and organizations diminishes their message and effectiveness; and

(3) Of all the de-legitimization activity going on in the world, BDS is one of the few areas we civilians can have an impact. Most of us are not in the position to affect how nation states or international organizations behave (even if we can communicate their failings). But we can protect the civil society in which we live from being infected by the BDS virus. And any failure BDS experiences rebounds against the anti-Israel de-legitimization project as a whole.

BDS fail in unexpected places

Dining in a renowned restaurant in Northern  California, I was pleasantly surprised to see an Israeli beer on the rather limited and exclusive menu of artisan beers.

Malka is an Irish Dry Stout, rich, creamy and chocolaty.  Ask for it at your local brew pub.  Nice to see that even in occupied northern California, most sensible people's response to BDS is  "why would anyone boycott Israel?"

Indeed. Why would anyone boycott a diverse, pluralistic democracy?

Also sighted in Northern California-  a shoe store in a rather tony neighborhood proudly featuring a display of Israeli made shoes.  Carrying two complete lines of shoes from Israel, the owner knew nothing of a boycott, and said the shoes were were quite popular.

A local grocery store is now carrying a line of frozen Dorot spice mixes and sauces.  Quick, convenient and Israeli.

And perhaps most gratifying is this, from a Iranian market in Berkeley. The owner of a mid-Eastern grocery  helpfully arranged her Passover products  in one display.  Most of these products are from Israel.  In the Bay area, as in most of the country, the most reliable place to buy Israeli products are the small Arab grocery stores.

The Bay area has long been regarded as the hub of anti-Israel organizing in the country.  Yet even after 13 years of intense pressure, the boycott movement has not  achieved even a tenuous toehold here. 

13 years of BDS fail. Delicious, comfortable convenient BDS fail.

Fighting back against BDS. Yascher Koach to Western Washington University

Today, the Associated Students of Western Washington University  became the first North American student government to pass a proactive resolution against the anti-Israel BDS movement. The resolution outlawing boycotts based on national origin  passed unanimously 7-0.  It is the first time a student government has taken  proactive steps to protect itself from the bitter divisiveness of a campus BDS campaign.

From Arutz Sheva:

The student government at Western Washington University (Associated Students WWU) voted unanimously Wednesday that it will not consider boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) based on national origin, according to Israel advocacy organization StandWithUs.

The 7-0 vote represents the first time ever that a North American university’s student government took pro-active legislative steps to protect students from discriminatory BDS campaigns, such as the ones that have targeted Israel at a number of campuses in recent years.

According to the resolution, the ASWWU will not support BDS campaigns because, “tensions between students related to foreign conflicts should be managed in a healthy and collaborative manner rather than be exacerbated.”

It also expressed concern that BDS campaigns, “can cause students to be targeted on the basis of nationality” and lead to “disrespectful bias, hostility, hate, or harassment.” 

WWU Student Alysa Kipersztok, a StandWithUs Emerson Fellow, brought the anti-BDS resolution to the ASWWU.

“I’ve seen how divisive anti-Israel BDS campaigns have been on campuses across the country," she stated. "Western is a warm, respectful, inclusive community. Our mission statement states that WWU ‘brings together individuals of diverse backgrounds and perspectives in an inclusive, student-centered university."

Yascher Koach to Alysa Kipersztok and to the student government of Western Washington University, for standing tall against hatred on campus.

A copy of the resolution appears below.  May this prove to be a successful model as we fight back against the ugliness and divisiveness of BDS on campus.

Hamas endorses BDS

What company they keep. Hamas endorses BDS

Do you want to stand with Scarlett Johansson, for universal rights, and strong economic and cultural ties, or do you want to stand with the genocidal terror group Hamas?

From the Middle East monitor

Arab and Muslim states should take a firm stand towards any entity that deals with the Israeli occupation as Europe has, Hamas said.

In a statement issued by the movement's press office, Hamas commented on the acts of major European companies that boycotted Israeli settlements and withdrew their investments from the illegal entities. 

"We, in Hamas, appreciate and welcome these economic boycotts against the Zionist occupation and we consider it a step in the right direction towards pressuring the occupation to stop its settlement activities and its Judaisation of the Palestinian land."

Hamas also expressed hope "that the European position expands to become a public policy against the ongoing Zionist war which targets the Palestinian people's land, heritage and identity." It called on the Arab and Muslim countries to "take a firm stand toward any party that deals with the Zionist occupation", while expressing disapproval of any interview, meeting or interaction with Israel and Israeli leaders.

It also called on organisations, businesses and cultural, educational and economic institutions in the world to declare their boycott of Israel in order to pressure the occupation to stop its war on and violation of Palestinian land. 

A number of companies and official and non-governmental organisations in Europe are now partaking in an economic boycott of the Israeli occupation. They include Norway's Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG), the Dutch pension fund (PGGM), the Danish Danske Bank, the Dutch water company Fitness and the Irish Workers Organisation amongst others.

Jewish voice for peace gets it wrong. Again.

Determined to keep the BS in BDS, JVP's already tenuous grasp of reality is fracturing further.

Poor Jewish Voice for Peace is still trying to come to grips with superstar Scarlett Johansson's decision to remain as the celebrity spokesperson for the Israeli home carbonation device, Sodastream.   In a marvelous act of fantasy or perhaps simply delusion the team at Jewish Voice for Peace has declared victory over the same incident they bemoaned as a loss just 12 hours earlier.

Last night , JVP wrote on their facebook page "Oxfam's inaction allows Sodastream shill Scarlet Johansson to quit ambassador role, rather than be held accountable for promoting policies Oxfam staunchly opposes".  Its still there.

( Hmmm. Scarlet's been taking about peaceful coexistence and economic cooperation. Why does this upset JVP and Oxfam so much?)        

Yet today's email from Sydney Levy  at JVP declares this a boycott victory,  and claims that Oxfam dropped  Scarlett over "Sodastream ties".

Not quite, Sydney, not quite.

If Sydney (JVP's director of advocacy) had actually been following the news,  he might have seen this:

Scarlett Johansson Cuts Ties With Oxfam Over Differences on BDS Movement
or perhaps this:
Johansson steps down as Oxfam ambassador
or even this:
Scarlett Johansson Cuts Ties with Oxfam Over BDS


 Later, JVP's executive director  Rebecca Vilkomerson added her own unique bit of spin , claiming the superstar's decision to thumb her nose at BDS was proof of the "growing power" of BDS worldwide. Alright, then...

Let me be the first to wish them many more such "victories".

For the Card-carrying BDS-hole

Thanks to Hen Mazzig for this one, via Twitter




"I instruct the medical authorities , in case I fall ill ensure that no technical equipment is used in treatment which was wholly or partly developed in Israel."

Hen -you may also want to add a disclaimer on the card refusing generic drugs- after all, Israel based Teva Pharmaceuticals is the world's largest distributor of generic drugs

BDS holes, feel free to print this out and carry it in your wallet.  

Divest This! A modest proposal to the American Studies Association

After heavy lobbying by anti-Israel activists, the American Studies Association has decided to "boycott" Israel. A glance at the "community activism" table at the conference shows the deliberate attempt to manipulate and deceive- note the widely discredited 4 part maps, and the Mohammed al Dura blood libel, both prominently displayed on a kaffiyah, no less. You'd hope- no, you'd assume that educators would be able to see past this propagandizing.  Apparently not.

Anti-Israel propaganda table from the ASA conference

Our old friend Jon from the Divest this blog weighs in on their decision.
From Divest This! A modest proposal to the American Studies Association originally posted at the CIF Watch blog

...a vote by the American Studies Association (ASA) to boycott Israeli academic institutions was passed the same way other votes have gone the BDSers way in recent months: by stacking decision-making committees with people who are BDSers first, academics second, whose fanatic devotion to “the cause” means they are ready to pass politicized motions they had no mandate to even discuss.  And like stacked student council votes that passed on a few campuses in the Spring, the notion that these measures represent student or academic opinion is laughable.

That’s because for any political measure to have an impact it must either be seen to reflect the will of the people it is supposed to represent or have some direct consequential impact.  But BDS votes taken in forums that involve as few people as possible demonstrate that even the boycotters know they are acting in their own interest, rather than the interest of those they are supposed to represent.

And as for consequences, the ASA vote is likely to produce the same complete lack of action similar votes have led to over the years.  That means no programs linking US and Israeli universities will be severed, no Israeli scholar will be disinvited from participating in a conference or submitting to a journal, no Israeli graduate student will be denied a place at a university, even with a boycott in place that allegedly represents the policy of an entire academic discipline.

This is because those who make such decisions, including those who forced this ASA boycott vote, know that actually enacting the boycott program they just stuffed down the throat of the membership would earn them the immediate and well-deserved contempt of the entire academy.  Which is why this vote, like all “successful” BDS votes, represents nothing because it will lead to nothing.

 Read it all at CIF Watch

This weeks BDS Fail news

Foreign investment in Israel has surged in the second quarter of 2013.  Net foreign investment has grown to $5.1 billion - its highest level in more than two years, and 4% up compared with the first quarter. Israel’s exports goods rose  0.7% from the first quarter to $23.8 billion in the second.

What were you saying about the unstoppable BDS movement, again?

And there is another chapter in the ongoing saga  "If the Palestinians don't Boycott Israel, why should the Presbyterians/American Universities/  Performing artists"?

Israel and  the Palestinian Authority have agreed to establish a regional center for economic and agricultural cooperation.

From Arutz Sheva

The initiative aims to improve food quality for the PA population, and to assist both Israel and the PA in fighting crop disease and infestation, both of which can easily cross man-made borders.

 The return to pre-2000 status will mean the reestablishment of several committees, including committees for marketing, for the protection of plant life, and for veterinary care. The Israeli Agricultural Ministry will also resume providing workshops and other guidance for interested PA resident farmers, on topics including food production, veterinary oversight of slaughterhouses, and vegetable export.
“Residents of both Israel and the Palestinian Authority territories benefited from the upgrade in economic cooperation,” he said. “There is no doubt that agricultural cooperation will help reduce regional tensions, by creating an economic mechanism that is good for both sides.”

Peace through economic cooperation. What a novel idea. So much for the "civil society" that the BDS movement purports to represent.  Try mentioning it to a BDS'er, though. Watch the smoke come out of their ears while they attempt to process it,  before resorting to their banal platitude "No normalization with the oppressor".