Israel’s “BDS blacklist” of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and members who will be banned from entering the country and which was released on Sunday was strongly condemned by rights organizations and likened to the defunct apartheid regime in South Africa.
Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan announced the list of 22 NGOs from Europe, the United States, South America, and Africa whose employees and/or members are banned from entering Israel due to their alleged support of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaign. With this move, the Israeli government aims to further stifle the global movement against the occupation.
"We will not be bullied by these attempts to punish us for a principled political stance"–Jewish Voice for Peace head Rebecca Vilkomerson responds to Israel banning the group from entering Israel and occupied Palestine https://t.co/JQwHn7Ye98 pic.twitter.com/hGCENyM0Hd
— The IMEU (@theIMEU) January 7, 2018
Hassan Jabareen, general director of Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, condemned the Israeli government’s ban, saying it “arbitrarily places draconian measures on foreign visitors” and “restricts the ability of Israeli citizens and Palestinian residents of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) to exercise their rights of association for the purposes of family unification, for employment, and for cultural and political exchange.”
Jewish Voice for Peace has the dubious honour of being included on an Israeli Foreign Ministry blacklist; its members, though Jewish, will no longer be allowed to visit the State of Israel. Report by @MairavZ https://t.co/XfzdcvoU6t
— Lisa Goldman (@lisang) January 7, 2018
Jabareen said in a statement that,
the “ban is an overt violation of the constitutional rights of Israeli citizens and the rights guaranteed to Palestinian residents of the OPT under international humanitarian and human rights law. This move is reminiscent of South Africa’s apartheid regime which also prepared blacklists in order to punish people and prevent the entry of those opposed to its racist policies.”
The Entry to Israel Law (Amendment No. 27) (Denying a Visa and Residency Permit for Advocates of Boycotting Israel), prevents foreign nationals or non-residents who have publicly expressed support for the BDS campaign from entering Israel.
Adalah General Director Hassan Jabareen: #Israel's '#BDS blacklist' is reminiscent of #SouthAfrica's #apartheid regime which also prepared #blacklists in order to punish people & prevent entry of those opposed to its #racist policies. https://t.co/2wThNp2RF9
— Adalah (@AdalahEnglish) January 7, 2018
The list of organizations now banned by Israel includes:
AFPS (The Association France Palestine Solidarité)
BDS France
BDS Italy
ECCP (The European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine
FOA (Friends of Al-Aqsa)
IPSC (Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign)
Norge (The Palestine Committee of Norway)
Palestinakomitee
PGS (Palestine Solidarity Association in Sweden)
Palestinagrupperna i Sverige
PSC (Palestine Solidarity Campaign)
War on Want
BDS Kampagne
AFSC (American Friends Service Committee)
AMP (American Muslims for Palestine)
Code Pink
JVP (Jewish Voice for Peace)
NSJP (National Students for Justice in Palestine)
USCPR (US Campaign for Palestinian Rights)
BDS Chile
BDS South Africa
BNC (BDS National Committee)
(Wafa, PC, Social Media)
