To the editor:
In his op-ed, "When 'Made In Israel' Is a Human Rights Abuse," Eyal Press incorrectly refers to the BDS movement as a "grass-roots campaign that seeks to pressure Israel to change its policies toward the Palestinians."
The BDS movement has been shaped by founders who have made clear that their ultimate goal is the destruction of Israel. BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti unambiguously stated "definitely, most definitely we oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine. No Palestinian, rational Palestinian, not a sell-out Palestinian, will ever accept a Jewish state in Palestine.”
Hence, the BDS movement itself is inherently and irredeemably anti-Semitic. To paraphrase what William F. Buckley Jr. said about Pat Buchanan, one must conclude the actions of those who support BDS are anti-Semitic in effect, if not in intent.
Hence, BDS and Press' op-ed are also, in reality, hateful abuses of the human rights movement.
Sincerely,
Alan Stein