Complex and contradictory language surrounds our conversations regarding the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) “movement” and how to stop it.
“De-legitimziation,” “anti-Semitism,” “hypocrisy,” and “misguided” are all words used repeatedly by BDS critics, just as “human rights,” “international law” and “free speech” are phrases we can count on hearing from proponents of boycott and divestment activity.
Having dealt with BDS campaigns targeting Israel since 2004 when the “movement” (simply called “divestment” back then) hit my hometown of Somerville, MA, I’d like to propose a different vocabulary – one derived from warfare – that can help us better understand what we’re dealing with when we’re battling BDS, and how to most effectively win those battles.
All but the most ardent foes of the Jewish state would agree that Israel has been a nation at war since before its birth with the years 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973 marking specific hot clashes between conventional armies, with other forms of warfare (pogroms, terror, economic blockade) beginning years before the state was founded and continuing ever since.
Propaganda has played a role in warfare since conflict moved beyond grunting pre-humans throwing rocks at one another. And the military purposes of campaigns like BDS are the same as we’ve seen in other propaganda efforts mounted throughout
recorded history, namely:
- Maximizing the military options of your allies while minimizing those of your adversary
- Making your opponent seem so vile that any action taken against it is justified.
