The lower house of the Czech Republic’s parliament passed a non-binding resolution on Oct. 22 that denounces the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement as anti-Semitic.
The Times of Israel reports that the resolution’s text “condemns all activities and statements by groups calling for a boycott of the State of Israel, its goods, services or citizens” and urges the Czech government to cease any financial support organizations that boycott Israel.
Additionally, the resolution condemns anti-Semitism in all forms, including “any questioning of the State of Israel’s right of existence and defense” and Holocaust denialism.
The resolution passed with a vote of 120 in favor and 20 against, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz praised the resolution in a tweet.
“I wish to thank our Czech friends for this step, which reflects the true friendship between our countries,” Katz tweeted. “I call on more Parliaments to follow suit.”
I welcome the adoption of an important resolution, by the Czech Chamber of Deputies, condemning all forms of Antisemitism.
I wish to thank our Czech friends for this step, which reflects the true friendship between our countries.
I call on more Parliaments to follow suit
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) October 22, 2019
The Anti-Defamation League hailed the resolution as “exemplary” in a tweet.
“With anti-Semitism on the rise, all European parliaments should follow this important move,” they added.
Exemplary resolution by the Czech parliament to condemn #antiSemitism and BDS and to urge the government not to fund organizations that promote boycotts of Israel. With anti-Semitism on the rise, all European parliaments should follow this important move.https://t.co/JDMwc7iFJN
— ADL (@ADL) October 23, 2019
StandWithUs Co-Founder and CEO Roz Rothstein similarly tweeted, “THANK YOU CZECH PARLIAMENT -for passing a ruling that will fight any attempt to boycott #Israel.”
THANK YOU CZECH PARLIAMENT -for passing a ruling that will fight any attempt to boycott #Israel https://t.co/174WSgJLlJ
— Roz Rothstein (@RozRothstein) October 22, 2019
The German Bundestag [parliament] passed a similar resolution condemning BDS in May, which called the movement’s “patterns of argumentation and methods” anti-Semitic.
