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on bds from norway
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I first heard about BDS through Sabeel’s “Morally Responsible Investments” book in 2004. I wrote an article in 2006 (“The Israeli Occupation and the Churches—the Right to Criticize and Divest?”). I have also addressed the topic in 6-8 op-eds in Norwegian newspapers, for correcting the impression that boycotting the occupation is viewed as anti-Semitic or identical to boycotting Israel.
There is no doubt that the antisemitism accusations have been harder and harsher, and it does require some courage even to call for a narrow BDS, that is, targeting those benefiting from the occupation. Note that we do not use the term BDS, but rather, “economic measures against Israel’s occupation.”
There have been attempts of referring to the Norwegian experiences during the 1940-1945 occupation, but that is generally not successful. A better approach, as I see it, is to focus on all situations of occupation. I, myself, have been working against the Moroccan occupation and Norwegian companies benefiting from resource extraction from Western Sahara.
Religion without liberation and justice for the oppressed is inadequate religion. The BDS movement needs to stress that this is not against a particular religion or a particular people, but against those who are willingly contributing to upholding occupation and furthering dispossession, in contravention to international law.
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Religion without liberation and justice for the oppressed is inadequate religion. The BDS movement needs to stress that this is not against a particular religion or a particular people, but against those who are willingly contributing to upholding occupation and furthering dispossession, in contravention to international law.