Czech Parliament House Passes Anti-BDS Resolution

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.