March 8, 2016
The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), has expressed its disappointment with the call by Indonesian President Joko Widodo for a boycott of Israeli goods produced in the West Bank, Golan Heights and East Jerusalem. President Widodo’s call came during a summit in Jakarta of The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation which urged the international community to support the “boycott of products produced in or by the illegal Israeli settlements”. The motion was part of the Jakarta declaration initiated by Indonesia.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“It is very disappointing that President Jocko is backing a policy that will cause great economic and political harm to Israel. No head of state should support the discriminatory goals of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Such an approach is damaging to the peace process and gives momentum to opponents of Israel who seek to delegitimize the Jewish state by weakening its economy and isolating it politically. It would be more beneficial if the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation devoted its time to encouraging the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table, as these kinds of anti-Israel measures only prolong the deadlock, rather than resolving it. We hope that President Widodo reverses his call and rejects this biased and counterproductive resolution which will do nothing to promote dialogue and genuine reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.”
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on (03) 9272 5677
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