First Palestinian Conference for the Boycott of Israel (BDS)

The Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO), the OPGAI-Coalition, PACBI and the Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign convene this conference, in order to promote all forms of boycott against Israel among Palestinian community organizations, unions, as well as political, academic and cultural institutions.

Objectives:

(1) Raising Palestinian awareness of the BDS campaign as a form of active civil resistance against Israel’s occupation and other forms of oppression;
(2)Promoting boycott as a key component in the struggle by all sectors of Palestinian civil society (adopting common criteria; internalizing them in programs; advocating boycott internationally);
(3) Providing a Palestinian reference and guidance for the global BDS campaign.

International guests are welcome. Partial translation from the Arabic will be available during the Conference, and the organizers are ready to facilitate accommodation in private homes. Please note that no financial support for travel and hotel accommodation is available.
For further detail and registration, please contact: Hazem Alnamla, PNGO at hazem@pngo.net, or telefax: +972-2-297 5320/1

Program & Speakers

9:00 - 9:30 Registration

9:30 - 9:40 Welcome address Conference objectives and program Gabi Baramki, (PACBI)

9:40 - 10:00 Political analysis Current challenges and the importance of civil resistance Allam Jarrar, (PNGO)

10:00 - 11.30 Panel-1 (w/ discussion)
Chair: Sama Oweida
International boycott of Israel: why and why now? Bonagani Masusku (International Secretary, COSATU)
Haim Bresheeth (BRICUP)

11:30 - 11:45 Break

11:45 - 13:15 Panel-2 (w/ discussion)
Chair: Rana Nashashibi
Boycott Culture: motives, criteria and prospects
Adnan Ateyah (OPGAI)
Islah Jad (PACBI)
Jamal Jum’a (STW)

13:15 - 14:45 3 Workshops (parallel)
Brief introductions,
Discussion

Reports of rapporteurs
1) Practical BDS steps, local campaign
2) Practical steps, BDS in the Arab world and Palestinian exile
3) Practical steps, international campaign
Manual Abdel’al (PGFTU)
Rania Elias (PACBI)
Salah Hanieh (Consumer Protection Society)
Muhammad Jaradat (BADIL)
Isam Arouri (PNGO)
Muhammad Arouri (Independent Unions)

14:45 - 15:45 Lunch

15:45 - 16:00 Presentation of recommendations and final remarks
Rifat Odeh Kassis (DCI)

Special thanks to the main supporters who made this conference possible:
 Muwatin, The Palestinian Institute for the Study of Democracy;
 OPGAI, Occupied Palestine and Golan Heights Advocacy Initiative;
 Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights;
 PMRS, Palestinian Medical Relief Society;
 UHWC, Union of Health Work Committees;
 UAWC, Union of Agricultural Work Committees