A clear shift in public discourse around Israel is unfolding in the United States. Americans are increasingly disapproving of blank checks and uncritical support for Israel. Growing numbers of people embrace the Palestine movement as an organic part of any left or progressive movement. Yet there remains one area of Palestine advocacy that is still considered taboo, one even progressives often are scared to touch: support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement (BDS) and its call to defund apartheid and military occupation.

Over a hundred seventy Palestinian civil society organizations, representing Palestinians across the diaspora, in the West Bank and Gaza, and Palestinian citizens of Israel, have called for a boycott of, divestment from, and sanctions on Israel until it complies with international law. The call was formally launched in 2005. The BDS movement’s demands are concrete: Dismantle the apartheid wall and end the occupation of the West Bank and Golan Heights, recognize the full rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel, and uphold UN resolution 194 which stipulates,

 . . . refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible.