By Gilad Atzmon
Ali Abunimah, the Chicago-based, American-Palestinian activist, is, once again, on the attack. In the last few months he has launched campaigns against some of the most prominent pro-Palestinian figures such as Prof. Finkelstein, Prof. Chomsky, Greta Berlin, Col. Ann Wright and myself. But now he seems to stepping one gear up.
Following PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ renunciation of the Palestinian Right of Return (ROR) on Israeli TV, Abunimah now criticizes both Abbas and legendary Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat for compromising the most elementary Palestinian cause i.e. the ROR.
Abunimah is a Palestinian exile and so deserves our support for criticising his leaders’ compromising of his most precious right. Still, it’s hard to grasp just why Abunimah is so outraged by Abbas’ comment when he himself is so intimately associated with the BDS and its leader Omar Barghouti who has sacrificed exactly the same right.
It was back in June when we were so shocked to find that BDS in Ramallah changed its 2005 goal statement. To its original statement “Ending (Israeli) occupation and colonization of all Arab lands” it added four simple but nonetheless highly significant, words. BDS’ first goal now reads:
“Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands occupied in June 1967 and dismantling the Wall”. (http://www.bdsmovement.net/bdsintro)
In his recent book, Omar Barghouti reaffirms the above. In the introduction to his book, Barghouti specifies that the first BDS goal refers to 1967 "ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands [occupied in 1967] and dismantling the wall" (p. 6). On page 49, Barghouti lists "the minimal requirements of a just peace...BDS calls for ending Israel's 1967 military occupation of Gaza, the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), and other Arab territories in Lebanon and Syria." Skipping to p. 235, Appendix 1, "Call for the academic and cultural boycott of Israel," it again refers to "military occupation and colonization of the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and Gaza since 1967."
Barghouti’s book and the BDS’s goal statement do not leave much room for speculation. They all have given op on pre-1948 Palestine. But what about the 1948 refugees and the 194 United Nation Resolution*? BDS 3rd goal contends that it is “Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194”
BDS indeed ‘respects’, ‘protects’ and ‘promotes’ the ROR, yet it clearly comes short of ‘demanding’. Let me assure Mr. Abunimah that PLO’s Abbas is also committed to ‘respect’, ‘protect’ and ‘promote’ the ROR.’ Yet, like BDS and Barghouti he fails to demand.
More significantly, both BDS and Omar Bargouti refused to Join or support The Global March to Jerusalem earlier this year. The Global March to Jerusalem was a symbolic reminder of the Palestinian right to return to their homes and land. Surprise surprise, Ali Abunimah also failed to support the March. Today, chief organizer of the Global March confirmed with me that he personally approached Mr. Abunimah back in March, but, for some reason, Abunimah declined to offer his support.