Pro-Israel groups light candles to counter BDS darkness
Erdan says anti-boycott efforts bearing fruit, ISrael has moved from defense to offense.
By JPOST.COM STAFFUpdated: DECEMBER 20, 2017 11:10Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan lights candles with anti-BDS activists from Jewish organizations(photo credit: COURTESY MINISTRY OF STRATEGIC AFFAIRS)
Israel's Ministry of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy hosted on Tuesday a hanukka candle lighting ceremony with the leadership of over 30 organizations focused on fighting anti-Israel delegitimization and the BDS movements.The participating groups included: The Israel Project, World Jewish Congress, EIPA, Hillel, the Zionist Federation of Sweden, Over the Rainbow, Reservists on Duty, Legal Forum for Israel, Maccabi World Union and others.Minister of Strategic Affairs Gilad Erdan told the attendees that “our efforts have started to bear fruit. This year we have gone on the offensive, and together we have managed to not only surprise the BDS campaign, but severely hinder their ability to spreads their lies and hatred against the State of Israel.”Erdan also addressed the calls to boycott products from Jewish settlements in the West Bank, saying that this was merely a facade to hide the BDS campaign's real aim of boycotting all of Israel, and that the ministry would act to unmask the campaign and expose its true goals.Erdan concluded by announcing that in the upcoming year the ministry will focus on combatting the anti-Israel delegitimization and boycott movement in Europe, and called upon all organizations within the pro-Israel network to work together to "combat BDS's deceitful campaigns."
