The Stream

Brooklyn College vows to hold BDS panel

New York City officials criticise university event discussing Israel boycott.

FRANCE PARIS PALESTINE ISRAEL

Pro-Palestinian supporters show a banner against Israel as they demonstrate, 28 March 2009. EPA/LUCAS DOLEGA

The controversy over a New York City college’s plans to host a leading advocate of the campaign to boycott Israel reached a new level this week. Thursday’s event will feature a discussion of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign with guests Omar Barghouti, a BDS leader, and philosopher Judith Butler. City officials in charge of public funding for Brooklyn College questioned the event, which has drawn criticism for what some are calling implicit support for the boycott.

The Stream recently featured a similar conflict between Palestinian solidarity groups and certain Jewish student organisations on University of California campuses.