Binghamton students must categorically reject BDS - opinion

• Published date: 02 April 2024
• Author: AVIAD LEVY
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The SUNY BDS campaign targets Jews and Israelis. It is inherently racist and virulently antisemitic. Supporters call for the termination of partnerships between SUNY institutions and Israeli universities and organizations, the end of opportunities for SUNY students to obtain jobs in the Israeli defense manufacturing industry, and the divestment of $250 million in SUNY-associated pension funds and endowments in the Israeli bond market

In light of SUNY BDS's flagrant use of the university name acronym, the State University of New York has sent a cease and desist letter to SUNY BDS, threatening legal action. This may be the reason that according to SUNY BDS's website, "SUNY" now stands for "Stop Unbearable Neoliberal Yuppies."

On February 27, the office of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul released a statement: "To be clear, both Governor Hochul and the SUNY system do not endorse this group or their mission." The letter also noted that Gov. Hochul has "repeatedly condemned all forms of antisemitism…"

In its official statement, SUNY BDS continuously charges Israel with perpetrating genocide against the Palestinian people. This is a lie.

Israel does all it can to prevent civilian casualties. In an interview published on February 20, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi stated, "We must be careful not to use force where it is not required, to distinguish between a terrorist and those who are not..." If Israel were truly committing genocide, why would the IDF issue evacuation orders and drop leaflets warning residents of impending airstrikes?

Instead, it is Hamas that places Palestinians in harm's way, that embed their terrorist infrastructure in UN buildings, hospitals, and densely populated regions of the Gaza Strip.

SUNY BDS does not inform its prospective members about why exactly Israel is conducting this operation in the first place. It does not tell them that on October 7, thousands of Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and raped, burned, and slaughtered both innocent civilians and security personnel. By the end of the massacre, 1,200 people were murdered. Soon after, Israel launched its mission to eliminate Hamas.

US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby denounced the claim that the Jewish State is committing genocide, saying, "Israel isn't trying to wipe the Palestinian people off the map, Israel isn't trying to wipe Gaza off the map. Israel is trying to defend itself against the genocidal terrorist threat."

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