Icelanders to join campaign against Israeli goods

On Sunday, Reykjavik’s municipality voted for the boycott, and promised to continue the embargo “as long as the occupation of Palestinian territories continues.”

The vote is part of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Tel Aviv, which was initiated in 2005 by over 170 Palestinian organizations that were pushing for “various forms of boycott against Israel until it meets its obligations under international law.”

Since then, thousands of volunteers worldwide have joined the BDS to help promote the Palestinian cause.

Iceland’s move was severely condemned by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, which released a statement claiming that it was unjustified.

The move comes as academics and activists from across the globe are gearing up for a gathering in Tunisia to discuss further developing the BDS movement.

The gathering titled Boycott as a Strategy to Counter Israel's Occupation and Apartheid: Present-day Realities and Aspirations" is organized by the Center for Research and Policy Studies (ACRPS) in the capital city of Tunis and is scheduled to be held from August 4 to 6.

"This growing movement allows the Palestinians to take the reins of their national struggle, and to rebuild alliances with progressive forces around the world," reads the events announcement paper.

Thousands of volunteers worldwide have joined the BDS to help promote the Palestinian cause, including scores of Palestinian and international trade unions, NGOs, initiatives, scores of academic societies, business societies, trade unions, and cultural figures.

KD