Third of American students say BDS justified - survey

Danny Danon  photo: Reuters
Danny Danon photo: Reuters

Israel's ambassador to the UN Danny Danon: Today's young people are less committed to the special tie between the two countries.

One-third of American students believes that a boycott of Israeli is justified and represents a legitimate means of bringing pressure to bear, according to a survey carried out in the US in advance of a United Nations conference tomorrow, Channel 2 News Online reports.

Channel 2 originally reported that the survey covered the general US population, but subsequently inserted a correction making clear that it covered the student population only. "Globes" has corrected its report accordingly. 

The survey finds that the campaign of the BDS (boycott, disinvest, sanction) movement against Israel on university and college campuses around the world is bearing fruit, and that the controversial movement is gaining momentum in public opinion in the US and the UK.

The survey, carried out by Ipsos among 1,100 respondents in the US, finds that 33% of the student population of the US think that a boycott of Israel is a justifiable measure. A similar survey in the UK found that an even greater proportion, 40%, agree that boycotting of Israel is a legitimate act.

Nevertheless, 62% of respondents in the US and 50% in the UK consider the BDS movement to be a modern form of antisemitism.

"We have no ally more important than the US and no closer friends that the US community in all its variety," Israel ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said, but added, "The students and young people of today are, however, less committed to the special tie between the two countries than were previous generations."

Tomorrow, Danon will hold a conference at the UN entitled "Building Bridges, Not Boycotts". The conference will be held jointly with the World Jewish Congress, Keren Hayesod, the American Center for Law and Justice, the Anti-Defamation League, the Zionist Organization of America, Israel Bonds, StandWithUs, B'nai B'rith International, Hillel, CAMERA, and other organizations. Over 1,500 students, representatives of anti-BDS organizations, American Jewish organizations, lawyers and opinion makers will take part.

"There is no doubt that the BDS movement is not letting up on its attempt to harm Israel. Together with our partners, we shall continue to stand firm in the face of any threat, and we shall win," Danon said.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 30, 2016

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2016

Danny Danon  photo: Reuters
Danny Danon photo: Reuters
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