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Answer» What is Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions mean? The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) is a Palestinian-led movement promoting boycotts, divestments, and economic sanctions against Israel. Its objective is to pressure Israel to meet what the BDS movement describes as Israel's obligations under international law, defined as withdrawal from the occupied territories, removal of the separation barrier in the West Bank, full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and "respecting, protecting, and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties". The movement is organized and coordinated by the Palestinian BDS National Committee. BDS is modeled after the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. Its proponents compare the Palestinians' plight to that of apartheid-era black South Africans. Protests and conferences in support of the movement have been held in several countries. Its mascot, which features on its logotype, is Handala, a symbol of Palestinian identity and "right of return". There is no agreement on whether BDS is antisemitic. According to critics, it is inherently antisemitic, has anti-Semitic aspects, or resembles historical discrimination against Jews. The Anti Defamation League and German Parliament have called its methods, goals, and/or strategies anti-Semitic. Countering BDS is a top priority for the Israel lobby in the United States, where 30 states have banned the implementation of boycott and disinvestment measures proposed by BDS. The 2021 Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism says "Boycott, divestment, and sanctions are commonplace, non-violent forms of political protest against states," and that boycotting Israel is not inherently antisemitic. In November 2020, Amnesty International, while expressing support for BDS members, also stated the Donald Trump administration followed that of the Israeli government in making false claims of anti-Semitism to harm activists and limit free speech. Human Rights Watch's Eric Goldstein considers the charge of antisemitism against BDS a smear. reference
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