Boycotts and free speech



I am certain that there is a segment of our nation's population who when asked how they feel about BDS will think the question is related to a K-Pop boy band.  That's BTS, btw.

BDS is an acronym for a movement calling for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against the nation of Israel until:

Israel withdraws from the "Occupied Territories"
Removal of the separation barrier in the West Bank
Full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel
Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties.

Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar are members of the U.S. House of Representatives.  Donald Trump tweeted the following regarding their plans to visit Israel:

It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep.Tlaib to visit. They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds. Minnesota and Michigan will have a hard time putting them back in office. They are a disgrace!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 15, 2019



It is clear that both Ms Tlaib and Ms Omar support the BDS movement from their words and actions.
Does supporting BDS mean that you hate Israel?  I don't buy that.  Does it make the supporter an Anti-Semite?  I don't buy that either.  The issues involving the Occupied Territories, a homeland for Palestinians and so on are complex.

One fact is very clear.  In 2011 Israel passed a law that allows Israel to bar these two members of our Congress from entering their country, based solely on their support of the BDS movement.

Does that mean banning them was a good decision?  The Jerusalem Post wrote an editorial that it is.  It also wrote an editorial that it is not.  Here is an excerpt from the editorial criticizing the decision to bar the two members of Congress:

"One must ask though, is Netanyahu’s vision of Israel so feeble that it can’t tolerate intense public criticism?   Israel is a nation that has survived two intifadas, countless wars, a deluge of rocket-fire, diplomatic isolation, and yet this is what Netanyahu chooses to back down on? The Prime Minister’s biggest fear are two freshman congresswomen who at most would cause a week’s worth of press before returning home."

In a democracy, engaging in a boycott must be protected.  It is part and parcel of freedom of expression.  Remember, when we discuss freedom of expression, we are talking only about attempts by any level of government to infringe on that freedom.  Any of us can criticize the speech of another person.  Businesses, employers and so on can impose consequences for violations of company policy regarding speech.

I know why Donald Trump is making the travel of these two members of Congress an issue.  He is using it to stoke the divisiveness that he uses regularly.  I do not understand what Mr. Netanyahu is afraid of.  Unless he's afraid that the BDS movement has a point.

In any event, the choice to ban these members of Congress from visiting Israel has probably given the BDS movement more publicity than the visit would have produced.