The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement: Accomplishments, Tactics and Lessons

Panel chair: Ahmed Alkhateeb, Ph.D.

Panelists: Dr. Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy (Emeritus) at MIT; Dr. Thomas Abowd, Arabic Program and Department of Anthropology at Tufts University; Andrew Kadi, member of the steering Committee of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation; Yousef Munayyer, Executive Director of The Jerusalem Fund; Rev. Jeffrey DeYoe, Advocacy Chairperson of the Israel Palestine Mission Network

In light of the collapse of the peace process, the BDS movement stands out as a promising tactic for both raising awareness for the plight of the Palestinians as well as to directly combat the Israeli occupation. The recent accomplishments, although limited in scope, highlight the impact of organized grassroots action on societal and economical entities. Despite those accomplishments, it is unclear what the next milestones are and whether tactical shifts are needed. This panel will highlight recent successes from the BDS movement, discuss approach, and examine its trajectory. It will also attempt to bridge theory with tactics.