Lara Alqasem and BDS are not Anti-Semitic

On Oct. 5, the Alligator ran a story titled, “UF student detained in Israel will be deported,” which is wrong out of the gates because the subject wasn’t a student but an alumnus. This article introduces us to Lara Alqasem who, due to involvement with BDS, would be deported from Israel where she went to study. This would all be very factual were it not that it quotes the term “anti-Semitic” loosely without any useful context twice; once to describe her actions (in fairness this was a direct quote from the Consulate General of Israel in Miami) and once to describe the movement. While this is quoted material, there is no argument given against the statements. This is clear character assassination that needlessly smears Alqasem’s image, as well as the movement she is allegedly involved with: Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS).

For anyone not informed about the movement, BDS is framed around taking economic action against Israel due to its mistreatment of Arab Israelis and Palestinians. For a look into the allegations of mistreatment consider this: On June 13 of this year, Human Rights Watch declared Israel might have committed war crimes in the killing of 100 protesters in Gaza — an act which also wounded thousands. One of BDS’ biggest concerns, along with the removal of the separation barrier along the West Bank, is the right to return for Palestinians, meaning the Palestinian refugees displaced in 1948 and 1967 should be able to reclaim their land and property. The whole movement is based around the idea of promoting human rights through economic means.

This however runs into two problems from critics, the first being its blanket nature. BDS takes these strategies against all of Israel and all Israelis. This includes those Israelis who are opposed to the current structure and politics of Israel which BDS also opposes. That is a fair criticism, with some such as Palestine’s President, Mahmoud Abbas, stating that instead there should be a boycott of those products and services which exploit the occupied territories and the people there (Palestine). However, the bigger problem comes in the form of Israel’s place as the “Jewish Nation-State.”

Because of the identity politics at play, this allows any critic of BDS, along with anyone potentially affected, to level the allegation that BDS is racist. This has led to 21 states passing anti-BDS legislation that is offensive to the First Amendment. I’ll never say that there are no critics of Israel who are anti-Semitic or that no one involved with BDS could be anti-Semitic. But it’s an argument in bad faith to simply say the movement as a whole is anti-Semitic. To begin with, criticism of Israel says nothing of Judaism; the conflation of Israel, Zionism and Judaism is, in fact, a common far-right tactic; Vice co-founder Gavin McInnes had “10 Things I Hate About Jews” and the owner of ANC Report, Ryan Dawson, frequently does this. There’s a letter as well, which can be found at Jewish Voice for Peace, in which more than 40 Jewish groups across the world have signed on to expressly say that criticism of Israel should not be framed as anti-Semitism as a simple matter of fact. The other reason some are quick to cry racism is due to BDS’ singling out of Israel. But that ignores it was created single-issue as a direct response to Israel and Palestine.

I don’t know Alqasem and I can’t act as a character witness. However, quoting and printing that her actions and those of BDS are anti-Semitic is a clear smear of character. And given the gravity of the allegation, it necessitates more inflection than a simple quote. “UF student detained in Israel will be deported” levels a serious accusation against Alqasem and then fails to investigate the claim, Alqasem or the consulate who levelled the claim. It's confusing and feels like an act of bad faith. BDS is not anti-Semitic. BDS supports human rights, and what’s needed is revisions and apologies.

Levi Cooper is a UF English senior. His column appears on Wednesdays.