Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia – 2016/04/01

Boycott Divestment and Sanctions’ activists have reportedly received death threats from Israeli Ministers.

In a statement released by BDS founder Omar Barghouti, he says the list includes journalists, who have written to him inquiring and voicing their concern at the recent Israeli government minister’s death threats.

Barghouti mentions that Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said at the largest Israeli anti-BDS conference, held on March 28 in Jerusalem, that Israel should engage in “targeted civil eliminations” of BDS “leaders” with the help of Israeli intelligence, intentionally using language that plays on the Hebrew term for “targeted assassinations.”

“My name was mentioned in this context”, added Barghouti.

The Justice Minister of Israel Ayelet Shaked said that the BDS movement was motivated by hatred to the State of Israel and by anti-Semitism.

“It has nothing to do with one policy or another of the State of Israel.”

BDS South Africa’s Muhammad Desai says that there is good reason to be alarmed when government ministers make such threats against human rights defenders.

“When any government official, especially a government minister was to make a threat against activists we must take this seriously, but even more so when it’s the Israeli government, the ‘lawless, brutal, savage and violent regime’,”

Desai however, says this will not dampen their BDS campaigning.

“We must all take precautions, we are in touch with our fellow organisations across the world, including BDS activists in Palestine to make sure that we do take certain precautionary measures.”

“This is the reason why I am seriously concerned for my physical safety and that of my Palestinian, Israeli and international BDS colleagues. We hold the Israeli government responsible for any physical harm that may be inflicted on any of us as a result of this vile attempt to silence our voices.” – (Founder and Leader of the BDS Movement Omar Barghouti)

Desai says this is the most serious threat ever issued by a government official.

“There have been other threats and levels of intimidation against BDS activists, but not at this level.”

He says that they will be in touch with the local authorities to make them aware of the kind of threats the Israeli regime is making against the movement.

“There are other sorts of intimidation that we receive, whether it’s on social media or elsewhere.”

Desai says whoever receives such threats, should immediately take it up with the local authorities.

Twitter: @thedabhelia