Press Release
April 16, 2015
Contact: Yakira Heller
NGO Monitor
058-668-9603
yakira.heller@ngo-monitor.org

Statement on BDS Law Decision in the High Court

Jerusalem - The decision of Israel's High Court of Justice (April 15) to
uphold the central provisions of the "Anti-Boycott Law" marks an important
milestone in the response to political warfare. This complex and carefully
reasoned decision highlights and places limitations on activities of
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that pursue boycott campaigns in
Europe and America, using false and distorted legal and factual claims.
These discriminatory economic attacks are central to the "Durban Strategy"
(adopted in the NGO Forum of 2001 UN Durban Conference) of demonizing and
isolating Israel through BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions), lawfare
(legal attacks), and other strategies.

As is clear from the court decision and the legislation itself, the
anti-boycott law is a response to the central role of political advocacy
NGOs in support of boycott campaigns through patently false legal statements
and efforts to deny Israelis the basic right to self-defense. NGO Monitor
has repeatedly emphasized the importance of informed public debate and full
transparency, including the role of funder-enablers, in combating this
political warfare.

At the same time, we note that the decision of Israel's highest court is
consistent with court decisions and laws in Europe and the United States.
Invoking claims of free speech does not legitimate discrimination,
defamation, and the exploitation of legal processes to interfere with
commercial transactions, artistic performances, academic activities, and
other targets of BDS warfare.

NGO Monitor, an independent research institution, was founded in 2002 in the
wake of the World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa. At this
conference, 1,500 NGOs formulated the "Durban Strategy" which aims to
isolate Israel through measures such as boycott, divestment and sanctions
(BDS) campaigns, lawfare, delegitimization and demonization.

NGO Monitor (www.ngo-monitor.org), is the leading source of expertise on the
activities and funding of political advocacy NGOs involved in the
Arab-Israeli conflict. NGO Monitor provides detailed and fully sourced
information and analysis, promotes accountability, and supports discussion
on the reports and activities of NGOs (non-governmental organizations)
claiming to advance human rights and humanitarian agendas.

# # #

mail@ngo-monitor.org
www.ngo-monitor.org