The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) has been, from its inception, an effective political policy and strategic tool. Born in Durban through the fog of the Second Intifada, BDS has grown into a global movement. The benefits of the BDS narrative to its adherents is the ability to cultivate a patently anti-Israel movement, trading in the most malicious defamation and innuendo while maintaining an air of international legitimacy. After all, BDS activists point to a long list of reputable figures and organizations who support their cause. What will be shown however, is that many elements of the BDS movement are closely, if not directly, related to terror activities and financing. Furthermore, BDS South Africa will be shown to be a willing and enthusiastic supporter of many such entities.
Leila Khaled, approximately 1970. credit Eddie Adams
One of the most popular figures within the global BDS movement is Leila Khaled. Khaled originally rose to infamy when, as a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), she participated in two aircraft hijackings from 1969-1970. First, Khaled was part of a team that hijacked a TWA flight from Rome to Tel Aviv, under the mistaken assumption that then Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was on board. After diverting the flight to Damascus, Khaled and her team blew up a portion of the aircraft. In doing so, Khaled earned the infamous title of being the first female airplane hijacker. The following year, Khaled was involved in one of four PFLP hijackings carried out almost simultaneously. The hijacking of the El Al flight from Amsterdam to New York was foiled by the Israeli Sky Marshall, but not before Khaled’s partner shot one of the flight attendants. Khaled herself was overpowered and found with grenades in her possession. The flight was diverted to England. Khaled was incarcerated, but ultimately released the following month in exchange for hostages taken in other hijackings.
Faris Esack, BDS SA board chairman. credit: BDS South Africa
This is hardly the background of a rights activist, much less one who is celebrated internationally. The PFLP is an international terrorist organization, and recognized as such by the U.S., Canada, the E.U. and Israel. Despite this fact, in 2015, Khaled was hosted for over a week in South Africa. During her visit, Khaled was very warmly received, at the grassroots, NGO and governmental levels. For her part, Khaled, an unrepentant terrorist, saw fit to compare Israel to ISIS from her SA pulpit, among other malicious accusations.
During her visit, BDS SA board chairman Farid Esack championed Khaled, who he warmly received as ‘comrade’. Esack, a professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Johannesburg, is himself outspoken in his views. Esack has reportedly helped raise funds for the PFLP, compared Israel to Nazi Germany, and has been accused of Holocaust denial. Furthermore, Esack, who worked at the University of Hamburg, argued that the idea of an Islamic State in Germany must be allowed to be represented. In April of this year, Esack was awarded the Order of Luthuli (Silver), the highest SA award for citizens and foreign nationals who have made “a meaningful and significant contribution to the struggle for democracy, nation-building, justice, and peace and conflict resolution.” This is the same man who was quoted saying he would not pray for the victims of the ISIS terror attacks in Paris and that he was “sickened” that he was expected to condemn the attackers.
While the BDS narrative has proven successful in gaining international attention, its actual effect on those supporting them is increasingly damaging. Recognizing the organization’s thinly-veiled connection to radical, extremist entities, BDS groups and their contacts are being systematically identified and isolated. For example, many financial institutions are beginning to dissociate themselves from BDS groups, recognizing the risks of being connected to them. In Germany, Commerzbank, the second largest in the country, became the first to shut BDS accounts. Austrian bank BAWAG closed the account of the Austria-Arab Culture Center in Vienna, a staunch advocate of BDS, given its own event hosting Leila Khaled. Both Paypal and Credit Mutuel severed their relationships with BDS France due to their blatant violation of France’s anti-discrimination law. The Bank of Ireland closed the accounts of the pro-BDS Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, citing it as “high risk.”
Significantly, in America, it was recently released that the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, which oversees 329 BDS organizations, financially sponsors entities in direct support of internationally recognized terror groups. It, for example, funnels tax-exempt U.S. donations to the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC). One of BNC’s members is the Council of National and Islamic Forces of Palestine, which includes Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the PFLP. Such connections are illegal under US law, and entities linked to terror groups are being increasingly identified and targeted in the U.S. and Europe.
Leila Khaled hosted by BDS SA, with Malusi Gigaba (ANC) in 2015 – credit: BDS South Africa
The above facts should be taken very seriously by South Africans. Apart from the deliberate manipulation they are subjected to by BDS SA and its adherents, their wellbeing is well and truly at risk. As increasing international pressure is levelled against the BDS movement, and its terror links made clearer, those caught in the crosshairs face dangerous exposure and isolation. SA individuals, from the political to the grassroots level, and organizations, from NGOs to banks, are in danger of losing support from powerful international partners. As more evidence of the true intentions and allegiances of the BDS movement comes to light, it is surely in South Africa’s best interest not to be the last one to recognize its mistakes.
