The Austrian Parliament unanimously passed a resolution on Feb. 27 that condemned the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement as anti-Semitic.
The resolution denounces all forms of anti-Semitism, including “Israel-related anti-Semitism.” While it acknowledges that there is valid criticism of Israeli government policies, the resolution says it’s anti-Semitic to undermine “the right of the Jewish people to self-determination,” according to The Jerusalem Post.
“BDS, which has also increasingly appeared in Austria in recent years, makes use of this anti-Semitic pattern,” the resolution states.
The resolution calls on the government to “strongly condemn the BDS movement and its goals, especially the call for a boycott of Israeli products, businesses, artists, scientists or athletes,” the Times of Israel reported, as well as ensure that the government doesn’t provide any funding to BDS causes.
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lior Haiat praised the resolution in a tweet.
“Israel welcomes the unanimous adoption of the clear-cut resolution against #antisemitism and BDS by all parties in the Austrian Parliament,” the tweet read. “This determined decision by Austria sends a very strong signal and serves as an example for other countries in Europe and the world.”
Israel welcomes the unanimous adoption of the clear-cut resolution against #antisemitism and BDS by all parties in the Austrian Parliament.
This determined decision by Austria sends a very strong signal and serves as an example for other countries in Europe and the world. pic.twitter.com/Y1hkIgKZ94
— Lior Haiat 🇮🇱 (@LiorHaiat) February 27, 2020
Jewish groups also celebrated the resolution.
“Thank you to the Austrian Parliament (@OeParl) for standing with Israel and the Jewish community in sending a loud and clear message against the hate-driven movement that is the BDS campaign,” the American Jewish Committee tweeted.
Thank you to the Austrian Parliament (@OeParl) for standing with Israel and the Jewish community in sending a loud and clear message against the hate-driven movement that is the BDS campaign. https://t.co/Kdqi2NfTTA
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) February 27, 2020
Democratic Majority for Israel, a pro-Israel lobbying nonprofit founded last year, similarly tweeted, “The resolution leaves room for fact-based criticism of individual Israeli actions, but stresses the country’s right to exist is non-negotiable. We salute you!”
Austria’s parliament voted unanimously (Socialists, Greens & conservatives) to condemn BDS as a form of antisemitism
The resolution leaves room for fact-based criticism of individual Israeli actions, but stresses the country's right to exist is non-negotiable.
We salute you! https://t.co/Cw4dNXxNAK
— Democratic Majority for Israel (@DemMaj4Israel) February 28, 2020
In May, the German Parliament — known as the Bundestag — in a nonbinding vote passed a similar resolution, calling BDS anti-Semitic. The resolution cited BDS’ use of “Don’t Buy” stickers as an example of the movement’s anti-Semitism, comparing those stickers to the Nazi slogan “Don’t buy from Jews,” according to Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
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