[Peace-discuss] at HuffPo: If We Can Sanction Russia Over Crimea, We Can Sanction Israel Over Palestine

[Robert Naiman]

I thought this might be a "teachable moment" to contrast the complete lack
of controversy around sanctioning Russia to the manufactured hysterics
around the slightest hint of pressuring the Israeli government.

====

 If We Can Sanction Russia Over Crimea, We Can Sanction Israel Over
Palestine
Robert Naiman, Just Foreign Policy, March 7, 2014
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/russia-sanctions_b_4917854.html

I'm *so delighted* that President Obama and Congress are moving to impose
sanctions on Russia<http://news.yahoo.com/heavier-sanctions-russia-could-backfire-084345984.html>
over
its military intervention in Crimea. Regardless of whether one thinks this
is a wise or just policy in the case of Russia, this is setting a great
political precedent in the United States for considering boycotts,
divestment, and sanctions on Israel over its military occupation of
Palestine -- the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.

Until now, it has been the case that in the United States, if you talk
about any kind of boycott, any kind of divestment, any kind of sanction to
pressure the Israeli government to end its military occupation of
Palestine, some apologists for the Israeli occupation have gone into
rhetorical meltdown. Until now, we've collectively tolerated that the
hysterical opposition to "BDS" of these apologists for the Israeli
occupation be taken seriously in public discourse. In New
York<http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/NewYork-free-speech>
, Maryland <http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/maryland-free-speech>, and
Illinois <http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/Illinois-free-speech>, state
legislators want to punish you if you *even think* about boycotting one egg
from the Israeli occupation. We're all for the right of free speech --
unless you misuse your free speech rights to say something bad about the
Israeli occupation of Palestine.

But now, when it is proposed to sanction Russia over its military
intervention in Crimea, it passes through public discourse like a hot knife
through butter. No one complains that Russia is being "unfairly singled
out." No one claims that people who want to impose sanctions on Russia are
motivated by an irrational hatred of the Russian people. No one claims that
supporters of sanctions want to "delegitimize Russia" or "destroy Russia,"
nor that supporters of sanctions "refuse to accept Russia's right to exist."

People are raising legitimate questions about sanctions on Russia, as they
always should when new sanctions are proposed. Are they likely to be
effective at achieving stated goals? Who is likely to be harmed by them,
directly or indirectly? If they will harm innocent people, is that harm
ethically justifiable?

But no one with any influence in public discourse is calling supporters of
sanctions against Russia bad names, or demanding that they be punished for
their political opinions.

Let's draw a line in the sand. From now on, supporters of sanctions against
Israel for its military occupation of Palestine must demand the same
respect for our democratic rights that supporters of sanctions against
Russia for its military intervention in Crimea enjoy. From now on, we must
not tolerate any abrogation of our democratic rights to advocate for
boycott, divestment, and sanctions against the Israeli occupation. Let's
start by telling legislators in New
York<http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/NewYork-free-speech>
, Maryland <http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/maryland-free-speech>, and
Illinois <http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/Illinois-free-speech> to
kill legislation abrogating our democratic rights to advocate for sanctions
against the Israeli occupation. I'm looking at you, Illinois diaspora. "By
the rivers gently flowing." Stand up for our First Amendment rights.
-- 
Robert Naiman
Policy Director
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org
(202) 448-2898, extension 1
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