Anti-Semitism Still Exists: It’s Called Boycott, Divest and Sanctions
Congressman Lamborn speaks out against BDS on Capitol Hill
It is my pleasure to welcome all of you to this very important seminar on the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions Movement.
I am both saddened and outraged by the widespread popularity of the movement to Boycott, Divest From, and Sanction Israel, known as the “BDS movement.” It is gaining momentum throughout many of America’s college campuses, as well as the capitols of Europe.
I am saddened because throughout the history of the Jewish people they have been constantly subjected to unfair singling out for criticism, condemnation, and paranoid treatment. Economic boycotts were the very first step in the tragic history of European anti-Semitism, throughout the pogroms and inquisitions of Europe, and finally in the gas chambers, pits, and ovens of the Holocaust.
For example, after the Nazis came to power in Germany on January 30, 1933, the Nazi leadership decided to stage an economic boycott against the Jews of Germany.
On April 1, 1933, the Nazis carried out the first nationwide, planned action against Jews: a boycott targeting Jewish businesses and professionals.
Later, Kristallnacht — the Night of the Broken Glass — which occurred November 9–10 of 1938, targeted Jewish homes, hospitals, and schools. Over 1000 synagogues were burned and over 7000 Jewish businesses were destroyed or damaged. These events are related and Kristallnacht (and the Holocaust) was born out of the demonization, hatred, and vilification fomented by the Nazis’ early Jewish business boycott.
I have wanted to believe that the tragic history of anti-Semitism had finally ended with the Shoah, but unfortunately, anti-Semitism still exists and it is now rearing its ugly head in the form of BDS.
The ultimate objective of the BDS movement was articulated by As’ad Abu Khalil, a professor at California State University (Stanislaus):
“The real aim of BDS is to bring down the state of Israel… That should be stated an unambiguous goal.”
And what is the reason for bringing down the state of Israel? It is because it is a Jewish state, the only one in the world.
I am outraged because at a time when we are watching the complete devastation of Christian, Yazidi, Chaldean, and other minority communities throughout the Middle East at the hands of radical jihadis, it is absolutely astounding to me that it is only our one true, dependable, democratic ally in the Middle East — Israel — that constantly comes under attack for vilification and stigmatization in the form of the BDS movement.
All of this, even as we watch how the IDF and expert Israeli physicians assist at the border of Syria, rendering medical care to those wounded in the endless, brutal Syrian war that has stretched on since 2011, regardless of the injured individuals’ affiliation.
I am encouraged at the thought that today, wonderful people are coming together from various backgrounds, including Christian, Muslim and Jewish individuals, to try to work together to eliminate the ancient scourge of anti-Semitism that has manifested itself in its present form — the BDS movement.
I am hopeful that through awareness of the problem that this Congressional seminar addresses it will become the first step in eliminating the virulent scourge of anti-Semitism once and for all.
Congressman Doug Lamborn represents Colorado’s fifth district. He currently serves as co-chair of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus and co-chair to the Congressional Republican Israel Caucus.
