Video: Norman Finkelstein calls the BDS movement a “cult”, slams one-staters

Hardly Israel’s best-friend Norman Finkelstein in a very interesting video interview. This should be compulsory watching for anyone who encounters BDS or BDS activists, particularly students on campus.

Highlights include Finkelstein:

• Calling the movement a cult (a lot!).
• Saying he’s lost interest in the Palestinian cause, because it means being part of the “cult” of BDS.
• Calling BDS’ers hypocrites in asserting international law, while ignoring that Israel, within ’67 borders, is recognised by the law.
• Believing their position is untenable and un-defendable in public.
• Saying the right of return (six million Palestinians descend on Israel) is an absurd notion, saying the idea “creates terror in the heart of every Israeli”.
• Believing the movement doesn’t reach the mainstream movement, and won’t until it recognises Israel. Its “duplicity and disingenuousness” attitude towards Israel is bullshit.
• Discussing that the recognition of Israel will split the movement between those who want to eliminate Israel and those who are keen to recognise it.
• Dismisses the claim that “Palestinian civil society” endorses the BDS movement, despite the fact that in reality these organisations hardly represent civil society.
• Believes that if the movement were truly made up of Palestinians, there would be (at least attempts to organise) huge protests inside Palestine.

It’s actually funny watching the interviewer squirm as Finkelstein schools him. See also: Noam Chomsky’s thoughts on BDS.

• How would Israel deal with a Tahrir Square type movement?
• Video: Noam Chomsky discusses BDS, he’s not the biggest fan
• Day 3 at J Street: J Street and the BDS movement