DiEM25 members have just voted to formally endorse the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Movement as part of our commitment to global justice and in response to the enduring plight of the Palestinian people. For too long, the international community has stood by as the Israeli government enacts systemic violence, settler-colonialism, and apartheid against Palestinians.

Despite widespread global protests, numerous United Nations resolutions, and international court rulings, these injustices persist. We believe it is a moral imperative to amplify global pressure to end these atrocities and foster a path toward genuine peace, as outlined in our official position on Palestine.

The BDS Movement, initiated in 2005 by Palestinian civil society and inspired by the anti-apartheid efforts in South Africa, demands an end to Israel‘s occupation and colonisation of Arab lands, equal rights for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes per UN Resolution 194. Through peaceful means, BDS advocates for boycotting Israeli institutions, divesting from companies complicit in supporting the Israeli regime, and implementing sanctions to hold Israel accountable under international law.

We are committed to supporting BDS by declaring our organisation an Apartheid-Free Zone, meaning we actively reject any complicity in Israeli apartheid. We will engage in BDS campaigns, encourage our local groups to collaborate with BDS counterparts, and leverage our platforms to amplify BDS’s initiatives. Additionally, we will publish educational content, engage in EU debates supporting BDS, and mobilise against repression of the movement.

The BDS campaign strategically targets entities rather than individuals, focusing on organisations and businesses that support the occupation. BDS’s anti-normalisation stance also opposes any initiatives that legitimise the Israeli state’s oppressive systems, working instead to challenge the portrayal of Israel’s regime as “normal”.

By standing with BDS, we align ourselves with a global movement that has sparked critical awareness, held corporations accountable, and demonstrated impactful resistance to Israeli apartheid. 

Examples of successful BDS actions include Veolia’s exit from the Jerusalem Light Rail project, Orange Telecom’s withdrawal from Israel, and divestments by major international funds and corporations. 

Together, we aim to sustain the momentum toward justice, calling on the international community to support the BDS movement and demand an end to Israel’s violations of Palestinian rights.

Our support for BDS will be realised through the following where possible: 

• Supporting new and ongoing BDS campaigns where feasible
• Encouraging local groups to collaborate with their BDS counterparts and participate in their respective campaigns
• Utilising our social media platforms to amplify BDS and its campaigns among our supporters
• Hosting events, webinars, and teach-ins to inform the public and dispel misconceptions about BDS
• Publishing articles, op-eds, and research papers advocating for BDS
• Publicly engaging in European Union debates related to BDS
• Mobilising support for BDS in the face of state repression
• Integrating BDS into our policy agenda

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