ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA

NEWS RELEASE

BDS Founder Omar Barghouti’s Incredible Hypocrisy: Boycott Israeli Products, Except When They Can Save His Life

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) condemns the outrageous hypocrisy of Omar Barghouti, a founder of the anti-Semitic boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Barghouti recently made it clear that if Israel develops a vaccine that would protect Israel-boycotters from the coronavirus, then it is “not a problem” for boycotters to use the Israeli vaccine.

As first reported by the Jerusalem Post, Barghouti made these hypocritical remarks in an Arabic language webinar last Sunday, April 5, 2020, entitled “BDS and Anti-Normalization: The Most Important Strategies to Fight Against the Deal of the Century, Even in the Time of COVID-19.” Barghouti elaborated, “If Israel finds a cure for cancer, for example, or any other virus, then there is no problem in cooperating with Israel to save millions of lives.”

In fact, Barghouti has demonstrated a lack of regard for human life. He supports terrorism against Israelis, and never condemned the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) “pay to slay” payments to Arabs to murder Jews. Barghouti is indifferent to how boycotting companies in Judea and Samaria means that Jews and Arabs alike will lose needed jobs that sustain their families. Barghouti is also a longtime supporter of the “one-state solution,” which means eliminating Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people.

This is not the first time that Israel-bashers and anti-Semites like Barghouti hypocritically seek to benefit from Israel’s extraordinary advances and commitment to preserving human life. Both the PA and Hamas, the terrorist group that rules Gaza, refuse to live in peace with Israel or even to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. But that does not stop PA and Hamas leaders from taking advantage of Israeli hospitals when they need them.

Barghouti himself chose to go to school at, of all places, Tel Aviv University in Israel. Apparently, the “moral imperative” – as he has called it – to boycott Israeli academia, is an imperative for others but not for himself.

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein, ZOA Chairman Mark Levenson, Esq., and Director of ZOA’s Center for Law and Justice Susan B. Tuchman, Esq. condemned Barghouti’s hypocrisy: “Barghouti has shown his true colors. He is unrelenting in his commitment to harm and eliminate the Jewish state, unless he can personally benefit from all the great innovations and achievements that Israel can offer. Then his so-called principles go right out the window. Barghouti is not just a hater; he is a laughable phony, too.”

Click here to view the News Release on our website.

About the ZOA

Founded in 1897, ZOA played a key role in the Jewish State's re-establishment. Today, ZOA is the leading major American Jewish organization courageously defending Israel and the Jewish people; fighting against all forms of antisemitism, including anti-Jewish boycotts; and promoting the Jewish people's lawful right to live in and settle historic Jewish lands. ZOA exposes that a Palestinian state would endanger Israel's existence; presents the facts about the Arab/Islamic war against Israel; and combats the anti-Israel lie that Israel is an "occupier" of her own land. ZOA spearheaded long battles to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and apply civil rights protections to Jewish students. ZOA provides free legal assistance and programs to pro-Israel students at numerous college campuses. ZOA's bold, unapologetic voice has a significant impact on public discourse and policy.

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