The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), Australia’s leading civil and human rights organisation fighting hatred in all its forms, has called on Get Up! director Sarah Saleh to renounce her support for the BDS campaign or resign in light of news reports of her support for the anti-Israel movement.
Dr. Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“It is highly disappointing that a director of Get Up! supports the one-sided and hypocritical BDS campaign that traffics in discrimination and in a fervently vicious anti-Israel message that seeks to isolate and demonize the Jewish state. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is immensely complex, and deploying economic and cultural vandalism and warfare against Israel will not cultivate genuine dialogue, cooperation and reconciliation between the two parties, but will only fan the flames of division and hatred between Israelis and Palestinians. As former president of Harvard, Lawrence Summers, has observed, those who support the BDS are “advocating and taking actions that are anti-Semitic in their effect if not their intent.” Instead of building bridges and fostering dialogue in Australia, by having Ms Saleh on the board, Get Up! has chosen the path of divisiveness that only blows on the embers of discord. Get Up! must publicly reject this distorted stance that singles out the Jewish state for opprobrium, and instead send the principled message to the Australian public that it will fight the ever-growing growing defamation of Israel and the Jewish people by demanding that Ms Saleh renounce her support for the BDS campaign or resign.”
The Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and all forms of hatred.
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on (03) 9272 5677