published on The New Arab, July 17, 2018

In the US, two bills currently being discussed by Congress seek to criminalise the boycott of Israeli settlements and restrict Palestinian human rights advocacy by defining such acts as antisemitic.

In the United Kingdom, the government and pro-Israel groups have sought to prevent local councils from boycotting Israeli settlement goods.

Pro-Israel groups have also demanded legislation to outlaw “Israeli Apartheid Week” events at UK universities, citing the IHRA definition of antisemitism as justification.

“It is vital that Jewish organisations across the globe stand united against harmful definitions of antisemitism and together for human rights and the freedom to protest. We at JVP are proud to have initiated this historic effort,” said Executive Director Rebecca Vilkomerson of Jewish Voice for Peace.

The BDS movement for Palestinian rights has demonstrated an “ongoing proven commitment to fighting antisemitism and all forms of racism and bigotry, consistent with its dedication to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, the letter added.

From South Africa to Sweden, New Zealand to Germany to Brazil, for the first time over 30 Jewish organizations worldwide issue statement condemning attempts to stifle criticism of Israel#GlobalJewishStatementhttps://t.co/28yJsOW8KY

— JewishVoiceForPeace (@jvplive) July 17, 2018

“There is no room for hate speech, but equally there must be no suppression of legitimate political protest, nor chilling of critical discussion, as is happening to pro-Palestinian activists in the UK and elsewhere,” Leah Levane, a Jewish Palestine solidarity activist from the UK’s Antisemitism Consortium, said.

The BDS movement began in 2005 following a call by 170 Palestinian civil society groups.

Its supporters take inspiration from the campaign used by international activists to end apartheid in South Africa by isolating Israel politically and economically.