Statement from Boycott from Within (Israeli citizens for BDS)
June 2020
We are a group of more than 1,000 Israeli citizens, active against illegal policies of racism, occupation and apartheid by successive Israeli governments (1). We know very well how hard it is to campaign for Palestinian human rights in a climate of intimidation and persecution.
We would like to welcome the ECHR's (European Court of Human Rights) ruling in the Baldassi case. The ECHR ruled unanimously that French highest court’s criminal conviction of Israel boycott advocates violates the European Convention on Human Rights’ freedom of expression article (2).
This crucial ruling upholds free speech for human rights in the EU. We hope that the ruling will bring an end to shameful attempts by the French government to criminalize democratic dissent by human rights and Palestine solidarity activists in France.
We also hope that the ruling will deliver a clear message to any other European government which has tried to silence democratic solidarity with the Palestinian campaign for justice and equality. In addition to the French government, we note in particular the German and Austrian governments, and senior politicians in these states, who have created a climate of fear and McCarthyism in their attempt to silence Palestine solidarity activists. We will continue to stand against these attempts.
We stand in solidarity with courageous activists across the EU, and we call on human rights groups to endorse the BDS call issued by Palestinian civil society. Israel's occupation and apartheid policies must come to an end!
We also hope that the ruling will deliver a clear message to any other European government which has tried to silence democratic solidarity with the Palestinian campaign for justice and equality. In addition to the French government, we note in particular the German and Austrian governments, and senior politicians in these states, who have created a climate of fear and McCarthyism in their attempt to silence Palestine solidarity activists. We will continue to stand against these attempts.
We stand in solidarity with courageous activists across the EU, and we call on human rights groups to endorse the BDS call issued by Palestinian civil society. Israel's occupation and apartheid policies must come to an end!
Boycott! Supporting the Palestinian BDS Call from Within (aka Boycott from Within)