Tehran - A member of Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas Political Bureau said in Damascus Monday sphere of sanctions against Zionist regime goods, particularly Zionist townships' products, must be broadened.
According to the Palestinian news agency, WAFA, the top Hamas political official member Izzat Rashaq added, "The recent move made by the largest British department store in sanctioning the companies which export the Zionist townships' products is a new victory for the Palestinian nation."
He added, "We hereby request the entire companies and institute to follow suit of that British firm and join the group of those that have sanctioned the Israeli goods."
The global movement for a campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with international law and Palestinian rights was initiated by Palestinian civil society in 2005, and is coordinated by the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), established in 2007. BDS is a strategy that allows people of conscience to play an effective role in the Palestinian struggle for justice.
For decades, Israel has denied Palestinians their fundamental rights of freedom, equality, and self-determination through ethnic cleansing, colonization, racial discrimination, and military occupation. Despite abundant condemnation of Israeli policies by the UN, other international bodies, and preeminent human rights organizations, the world community has failed to hold Israel accountable and enforce compliance with basic principles of law. Israel's crimes have continued with impunity.
In view of this continued failure, Palestinian civil society called for a global citizens' response. On July 9th 2005, a year after the International Court of Justice's historic advisory opinion on the illegality of Israel's Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), a clear majority of Palestinian civil society called upon their counterparts and people of conscience all over the world to launch broad boycotts, implement divestment initiatives, and to demand sanctions against Israel, until Palestinian rights are recognized in full compliance with international law.
The campaign for boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) is shaped by a rights-based approach and highlights the three broad sections of the Palestinian people: the refugees, those under military occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and Palestinians in Israel.
Courtesy: The BDS Movement website (www.bdsmovement.net) for the background
© IRNA 2012
