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Palestinians: BDS Activists Are Troublemakers, Criminals

(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - At university campuses in the U.S., Canada, Australia and Europe, they are hailed as heroes campaigning for Palestinian rights. But in Ramallah, activists belonging to the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions [BDS] movement are seen by the Palestinian Authority as trouble-makers and law-breakers. For some PA officials, BDS is a movement that acts against the true interests of the Palestinians. A PA official in Ramallah explained that BDS followers make the Palestinians appear as if they are all radicals who are only interested in boycotting and delegitimizing Israel. "This goes against the PLO's official policy, which is to seek a peace agreement with Israel based on the two-state solution," he said. Four prominent BDS activists this week went on trial before a PA court for "provoking riots and breach of public tranquility" after protesting against the performance in Ramallah of an Indian dance troupe that had also appeared in Tel Aviv. The PA concluded that the BDS activists are anti-peace extremists whose goal is to prevent any peaceful settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. Omar Barghouti, one of the leaders of the BDS movement, said that the PA should be put on trial for bringing the four men to court. Amnesty International also called for dropping charges against the four.
2014-06-02 00:00:00
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