The campaign was started on 9 July 2005 by 171 Palestinian non-governmental organizations in support of the Palestinian cause for boycott, divestment and international sanctions against Israel. Citing a body of UN resolutions and specifically echoing the anti-apartheid campaigns against white minority rule in apartheid era South Africa,[3] the BDS campaign called for "various forms of boycott against Israel until it meets its obligations under international law".[4]There is considerable debate about the scope, efficacy, and morality of the BDS movement. Critics argue that the BDS movement is antisemitic[5][6]and promotes the delegitimization of Israel.[7][8] Critics have also accused the movement of using threats, bribes and coercion to ensure that unwilling participants are agreeable to BDS demands.[9] [10] BDS supporters argue that both the movement (and criticism of the movement) are similar to the earlier boycotts of South Africa during its apartheid era,[11][12][13] a comparison that the critics categorically reject on the grounds of dissimilarity of the regimes.[14] (
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