March 5, 2016
Media Coverage:
The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) has applauded Michael Sukkar’s strong anti-BDS statement delivered in Federal Parliament. In an impassioned and forceful speech, the member for Deakin observed that, “Make no mistake; BDS is nothing more than a declaration of economic war against the Jewish people…BDS is anti-Semitism pure and simple. It is anti-Semitic because it seeks to deny to the Jewish people the same rights of national self-determination that it supports for the Palestinians. BDS is also anti-Semitic because it supports the cause of a Palestinian state ethnically cleansed of Jews.”
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission, issued the following statement:
“We thank Mr Sukkar for his willingness to stand up and voice his clear-eyed and unmistakably principled opposition to the biased anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. His public pronouncement, as an elected official, is a critically important step in the efforts to combat and disrupt the BDS and its malicious objective of marginalising and vilifying Israel. Mr Sukkar’s words send the resounding message that any campaign that singles out Israelis and delegitimizes the Jewish state will not be tolerated in Australia. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is immensely complex, and embracing economic vandalism and warfare against Israel will not foster genuine dialogue, cooperation and reconciliation between the two parties. Such hostile and discriminatory partisanship only fans the flames of division and hatred. We agree with Mr Sukkar’s remarks that the, “BDS is anti-Semitism pure and simple”, and that “BDS is nothing more than a declaration of economic war against the Jewish people.” We applaud Mr Sukkar’s overarching message that the Australian public has rebuffed the BDS and that it is our collective duty to take a strong stance against the ever-growing growing defamation of Israel and to do all that is possible to defeat the hypocritical and destructive BDS.”
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on (03) 9272 5677
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