The anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement has always taken a rigid stand against Israel by boycotting all Israeli goods in an effort to destroy the nation through economic warfare. However, its cofounder has broken this stance temporarily, allowing and encouraging BDS supporters to use a vaccine for protection against the coronavirus if one is made in Israel. “The BDS announced normalization criteria long ago,” said Omar Barghouti, leader of the BDS movement. “If Israel finds a cure for cancer, for example, or any other virus, then there is no problem in cooperating with Israel to save millions of lives.”
While it’s good to see the BDS movement be willing to cooperate with Israel in this extreme case, it’s amazing to think about how much selfishness is involved on the movement’s part. The organization will stop at nothing to see Israel become delegitimized—unless, of course, there’s something in it for them. Rabbi Abraham Cooper from Los Angeles explained it harshly, but accurately: “BDSers are hypocrites just following the examples of Hamas and Palestinian Authority, whose leaders rush to Israeli hospitals when they or their children are suffering, yet pursue zero tolerance for any normal contact with their Israeli neighbors.” Perhaps the movement’s supporters could see an Israeli vaccine as an opportunity to soften their hearts toward the nation.
On an added note, the fact that the BDS cofounder would make this statement makes me think a cure might be more imminent than we realize. He must be getting the feeling that Israel is on the verge of a breakthrough and wants to set the record straight ahead of time. If this is the case, good things could be soon to come! Let’s continue to pray for an end to the pandemic and its extensive effects.
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