WAS inspired to write this topic this week after listening to BBC programme which featured the emergence of the boycott Israel, divest and disinvest from it, and sanction it (BDS) movement.The report said it has been influenced by a number of factors. In essence, however, we are told that the movement in Israel has been basically reactive - a response to international calls following traumas, and to ideas, primarily those introducing the South African model into the international and Israeli discourse.BDS drama started again when Barghouti, a Qatariborn Palestinian and a scholar had been restricted to travel abroad weeks after Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said he is considering revoking his residency rights. Barghouti has described the decision as “clearly political.”
“It does not just deny me my freedom of movement. It is seen by legal experts as a first step toward revoking my permanent residency, a clearly political and vindictive measure that has no legal basis,” he said.
The BDS campaign against Israel over its apartheid policies toward the Palestinians has gained momentum globally in recent years. The BDS campaigns to bring an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine is a tipping point. But to many even more significant is the way it has evolved without use of violence in response to calls by Palestinians to the international community to boycott Israel, divest and disinvest from it, and sanction it.
Although the history of the BDS movement in Israel is quite long, it has worked interactively, involving Jews and in tandem to influence the development of the BDS movement worldwide as well as in Israel.
According to the proponents of BDS, it clear that the major role of the Israeli BDS movement has been to support international BDS calls against Israel and legitimize them both as clearly not anti-Semitic, as not working against Israelis, but against Israeli governmental policies, and as supporting a legitimate nonviolent means by which Palestinian civil society can reclaim and re-own its people’s rights and freedoms.
From our history we all know that Mwalimu Nyerere had shown real sympathy alongside solidarity with the Palestinians, which was the driving force behind the Israeli BDS movement of today.
There is no way one can justify occupation the same way one cannot justify anti-Semitic. I think Tanzania is not on track on the issue of Palestinian.
I just want to be frank that the restoration of diplomatic ties with Israeli leaves more questions than answers and is negating all the efforts by BDS which some of its members are Jews.
The occupation and repression of the Palestinian people, as practiced by Israeli governments, will not be redressed without significant international pressure.
I wonder if those who associate themselves with the liberation doctrine of Mwalimu Nyerere would dare to talk about restoring diplomatic relations with Israeli, if Mwalimu Nyerere was still alive.
It is, indeed, my honour to recognize Mwalimu Nyerere’s contribution in the freedom struggle not only in Africa but the world over. As I pen down this article the Israelis are very much upset because of the Palestinian move to call for boycott of all products that Israeli is producing in the occupied territories in Palestine. Economic sanctions take time to bite but once they start biting you cannot stop the crunch.
Oh the occupation tipping point is closer than ever. History is evident that it was economic sanctions that paralysed the South African then Apartheid regime, beside other efforts by African countries including the late father of the nation, Mwalimu Nyerere’s stance to severe diplomatic relations with such Apartheid regimes.
It is crystal clear that Mwalimu’s three successors did not dare to talk about restoration of diplomatic relations with the regime.
So why now, is the question that is posed by many whose position regarding the Israeli occupation is clear that it has to be met by total boycott of diplomatic relations. Unfortunately, some of those who claim to be following the footsteps of Mwalimu have fallen into the trap of sympathizing with Israelis without any regard to those who are living under siege and occupation, among other things, following the occupation.
However, in order to play wolf the Israeli Regime is claiming that the Palestinians who have embarked on what is called BDS is another form of anti-semitism.
It is interesting that those who are proponents of justice have taken measures to announce that Tanzania is going to restore diplomatic relations with Israeli, without holding a referendum or consulting the Parliament. Why the haste?
Can we be told the motive of such a rush to restore relations? We were astonished at Isrealis good gesture when some of its companies started investing in Tanzania and then they moved to the corridors of powers including the Parliament after the swearing-in of the fifth phase government.
The higher authorities were showing the world that Mwalimu’s legacy on the question and plight of Palestinians is obsolete. We would like to remind those who went solo to announce the restoration of diplomatic relations that their judgement remains invalid.
If they were interested to review the situation why not involve the Parliament by setting a motion on the subject matter. Is it not the Parliament which is the highest body which represents the bonafide citizens of this country.
I would be the last person to believe that the issue of occupation has been toned down by the death of Mwalimu. If so, we started with the Arusha Declaration by disbanding the code of conduct, and now we are embarking on supporting aggression.
If Mwalimu has to be resurrected today he would not be ready to acknowledge leaders who side with aggressors and preach what they don’t practice.
If Israeli wants relations with Tanzania why not adopt a win-win situation by engaging the Palestinian leadership. It is clear that BDS is a boiling point which sends a clear message to the Israeli Regime that sanctions are gaining momentum.
Therefore, stop lobbying my Israeli brothers as the only way to win hearts and minds is not through the Tanzania government opening the embassy in Tel Aviv, but it is by going back to the negotiating table and honour your commitments to allow the two; Israeli and Palestine states live side by side. But I could be wrong. Enjoy Your Weekend!
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