Arthur Stark, Chairman and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations issued the following statement:
The Conference of Presidents welcomes the approval of the groundbreaking German resolution that describes BDS as an expression of anti-Semitism reminiscent of the boycotts against Jews in the Nazi Period, and calls on the government to not support events that promote or are organized by BDS organizations. The parliament also resolved that they would not finance any projects that call for a boycott of Israel or actively support such activities. The legislation enjoyed the support of the three governing parties and two main opposition parties, giving it a large majority in the parliament.
Arthur Stark and Malcolm Hoenlein said, “We welcome this very significant action by the Bundestag and hope that other European countries will adopt similar measures. It is an important recognition of the true nature of the BDS movement and its supporters, which is to deny Jews the right of self-determination and Israel the right of existence. It is especially timely given the rise of anti-Semitic incidents in Europe and the United States and the resolution pledges that Germany will ‘strongly oppose’ the demonization and denigration of Jews and support Israel’s right to be a state like others and to defend its citizens. We are grateful to Chancellor Merkel and her colleagues in her party and the others that joined them in securing passage of this landmark resolution.”
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