DSA question not anti-Semitic

To the editor:

(re: “DSA questions Israel,” Political Arena, Aug. 20)

Recent efforts to paint New York City’s Democratic Socialists of America as “anti-Semitic” are in reality part of a campaign to defend Israel’s apartheid over the Palestinian people and occupation of their land.

DSA supports BDS — the movement to boycott, divest and sanction Israel’s violation of international law.

BDS is not anti-Semitic, and includes many non-Zionist Jewish groups as well as unions, academic associations, churches and grassroots movements across the world.

BDS is inspired by the anti-apartheid movement, which helped end the racist South African regime.

It’s notable that white South Africans now live in peace with the majority of South Africans who are neither white, nor racist.

The U.S. government gives billions to Israel every year — the most of any country — and the Zionist government uses part of that money to lobby politicians here to continue the aid. This includes hosting city council members on all-expenses-paid trips to Israel.

DSA does not want candidates it endorses to take this “hospitality” designed to whitewash Israel’s occupation and cover the reality of Israel’s apartheid.

Both the state of Israel and U.S. politicians who support it push hard to oppose the anti-Zionist boycott movement.

This is logical since the boycott aims to end Israeli apartheid.

But it makes no sense to call this movement anti-Semitic.

That’s like saying opposition to racism and white supremacy in this country is “anti-American.” Opposing apartheid and white supremacy is progressive and necessary.

Dee Knight

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