From the Palestinian BDS National Committee

We’re urging the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to take the necessary measures to uphold and protect the rights of Palestinian, Israeli and international human rights defenders who campaign nonviolently for Palestinian rights, including through the BDS movement. Please add your name to our appeal now.

Having failed to stop the rise in worldwide support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality, Israel is now launching a desperate and dangerous fight back.

At Israel’s request, governments in the US, UK, France, Canada and elsewhere are introducing anti-democratic legislation and taking other repressive measures to undermine the BDS movement. In France, one activist was arrested simply for wearing a BDS t-shirt. Israel is using its security services to illegally spy on BDS activists across the world.

Israel has just imposed an effective travel ban on BDS movement co-founder Omar Barghouti. This repressive move is being seen as a step towards revoking his residency rights, as Israeli ministers threatened a few weeks ago.

Take action now: Sign our appeal to the UN about Israel’s war of repression on BDS

This follows thinly-veiled threats of physical violence against him by Israeli government ministers that prompted Amnesty to express concern “for the safety and liberty of Palestinian human rights defender Omar Barghouti”.

Israel’s huge campaign of repression against human rights defenders and the BDS movement is designed to shield it from being held accountable for its violations of international law.

At a time when the Palestinian people and people of conscience around the world are commemorating the 1948 Nakba, the ethnic cleansing of most of the indigenous Palestinians, defending the right of human rights defenders struggling for Palestinian inalienable rights is more crucial than ever.

Please add your name to our appeal today and share it widely. We’ll let you know when we deliver the appeal to the UN.

Many thanks,
Palestinian BDS National Committee