BDS threats thwart Israeli-Palestinian normalization meeting in Bethlehem
The meeting was organized by the “Two States One Homeland Initiative” which advocates the establishment of two sovereign states on one open homeland.
By KHALED ABU TOAMEHBoycott Israel sign(photo credit: REUTERS)
A meeting between Israelis and Palestinians that was supposed to take place in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, on Thursday has been relocated, after the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement threatened to thwart the gathering.The meeting was meant to be the founding congress of the Two States One Homeland Initiative, which advocates the establishment of two sovereign states on one open homeland.The Israeli-Palestinian group believes in equality for both people living with open borders.The Israeli side is represented by former Haaretz journalist Meron Rapoport, while the Palestinian side is represented by Awni al-Mashni, a senior Fatah official from the West Bank.“Because of difficulties on the Palestinian street, we have decided, in agreement with our Palestinian partners, to postpone the Founding Congress of Two States One Homeland Initiative in Beit Jala on Thursday to a more calm period,” the group said in a statement on Tuesday.The organizers decided to hold the meeting on the same day but in Jerusalem.Palestinian sources said that BDS activists in Bethlehem threatened to wage protests against the meeting if it were held in Beit Jala.The activists said that the meeting was a form of “normalization” with Israel and called on Palestinians to foil the planned meeting.
