2014 Resolution: The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction Movement against the State of Israel

Categorically rejecting the “narrative” of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel wherein Jewish Israelis are considering occupiers and/or colonizers of a foreign territory, a resolution of the membership of the Rabbinical Council of America – representing over 1000 Orthodox rabbis throughout the United States, Canada, Israel, and beyond – calls upon “all people of good will to denounce, oppose, and obstruct BDS efforts whenever they are in a position to do so.”

Formally adopted by a direct vote of the RCA membership, the full text of “2014 Resolution: The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction Movement against the State of Israel” states:

WHEREAS The Land of Israel is the national Jewish homeland and has been so for millennia; and

WHEREAS The return of the Jewish people to that homeland and the establishment of the State of Israel therein are historically and morally just; and

WHEREAS Hatred of Jews and Judaism has taken various forms over the millennia; and

WHEREAS Natan Sharansky has identified “Three D’s” – demonization, delegitimization, and double standards -­ any of which marks words or deeds against the State of Israel as anti­-Semitic and therefore illegitimate; and

WHEREAS The BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement against the State of Israel is, by that standard, anti­-Semitic

Therefore, the Rabbinical Council of America

Categorically denies the “narrative” of BDS proponents, wherein Israelis are occupiers and/or colonizers of a land foreign to them; and

Reaffirms its condemnation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s recent adoption of a measure calling for divestment from major companies doing business with Israel and extends said condemnation to any other body that has adopted or shall adopt a BDS policy; and

Expects all people of good will to denounce, oppose, and obstruct BDS efforts whenever they are in a position to do so.