It has been fascinating to read the responses to the growing boycott and disinvestment campaign aimed at Israel's illegal and brutal occupation of Palestinian land.
Its fascinating because its almost like listening to the arguments about boycott and disinvestment in apartheid South Africa; its the same tired and self-serving defence of oppression masked with cries of anti-semitism.
Those of us involved in the campaign against the South African Government have heard it all before - it will hurt the oppressed more than the government because the economy will be harmed, the ANC/ Palestinians are terrorists, the South African/ Israeli government is the only democracy in the region, you cannot attack academic freedom, boycotts will not work, this has to be sorted out by negotiation and not boycotts.
We know that boycotts and disinvestments had a profound impact on the struggle in South Africa, and was a major lever for change. The Shell boycott, for example, cut Shell's sales by 10 per cent and made them change their position. Governments around the world - and particularly the US - will shift when economic pressures force them to.
People don't oppose boycotts because they are a waste of time. They oppose them because they work. Hopefully the arguments of those opposed to boycotts and disinvestment in Israel will seem as silly in a few years as has happened with the opponents of change in South Africa.
