RAMALLAH: On February 7, American gender philosopher and activist Judith Butler and Palestinian activist Omar Barghouti are scheduled to deliver a lecture about the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement at Brooklyn College. The event, cosponsored by the college's political science department, has fallen under intense fire from pro-Israel groups in the last week. Harvard Professor and staunch Israel advocate Alan Dershowitz wrote a feverish op-ed in the Huffington Post. He denounced BDS as a “hate group" that has no place in the academic sphere, arguing that “academic departments should not take political positions that threaten the academic freedom of dissenting students or faculty." His sentiments were echoed by the Anti-Defamation League. On the other hand, college representatives have denied accusations that they are implicitly endorsing BDS by cosponsoring the event. Rather, the event is an example of freedom of speech and academic freedom in practice. Groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace have got behind the university, and on their website referred to the claim that the event was anti-Semitic as “completely unfounded." In a statement, the group said, “The truth is boycott, divestment and sanctions are non-violent tools with a long history of being used by civil society to make social change, notably in the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa and the civil rights movement here in the United States. In no way can it be construed as anti-Semitic." Jewish Voice for Peace also called on people to sign a petition urging the college to follow through with the event in spite of the criticism. Rejecting the characterization of BDS as a “hate group," Judith Butler told the NY Times via email that her “aim next Thursday remains the same: to consider some of the debates for and against BDS in the public forum provided by Brooklyn College, to clarify my viewpoint, and consider carefully challenges from the audience." According to the BDS National Committee website, the movement calls for a boycott until Israel meets three demands they argue it is obliged to under international law: “(1) Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands occupied in June 1967 and dismantling the Wall; (2) Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and (3) Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194." BN
