The BDS Theatre of the Absurd
The actors are the same. The script is the same. The rhetoric is the same. In this ongoing Theatre of the Absurd, BDS is ready to stage every possible propaganda stunt in order to manipulate public perceptions.
The latest production in the ongoing BDS propaganda circus was yesterday's so-called "Woolworths Shareholders Press Conference" (see report). Few realised that this was not a Woolworths shareholder meeting, but an impersonation of such an event mounted by BDS to create a media frenzy for their cause. As ever, the notion of truth was entirely irrelevant. The idea, rather, was to demonise the State of Israel and its supporters as much as possible, whilst bullying and intimidating the public at large into complying with its bigoted programme.
Present at this tour de farce was, as always, the "token Jew" who supports boycotts of Israel; Cosatu (whose Western Cape leader, Tony Ehrenreich, currently faces criminal charges for hate speech against the Jewish community); and BDS-SA, represented by National Co-ordinator, Mohammed Desai (who so memorably expressed the opinion that publicly chanting "Shoot the Jew" is not so big a deal).
The bogus "Shareholders' conference" was just the latest piece of Israel-bashing street theatre by BDS SA. In recent years, we have seen numerous events demonising Israel, and often Jewish South Africans as well. This includes the annual hate-Israel jamboree known as "Israel Apartheid Week", where its supporters have invaded and forcibly prevented Jewish functions from continuing and disrupted any business, academic or cultural event that ran counter to their blinkered views.
While BDS positions itself as defenders of human rights, their tactics remain bullying, divisive and intimidatory. They may claim to support Palestinians, but their actions are counter to anything that might bring about peace between Palestine and Israel.