Austrian BDS battles "crackdown" by local authorities
Robert Carter
Press TV, Vienna
As Israel's systematic attacks on Gaza and al-Quds persist, another war continues to rage on in Europe. The battle pits pro-Palestine activists pushing a global anti-Israel boycott campaign versus local authorities who back ties with Israel.
Founded in 2005, Boycott Divestment and Sanctions - also known as BDS - is a Palestinian-led movement promoting economic sanctions on Israel. Due to the movement's popularity, Tel Aviv has lobbied European lawmakers to criminalize the group and its activities.
France, Germany, and Britain are key battlegrounds, but lesser known is the struggles of the BDS in Austria.
Speaking to local members, a crackdown on BDS activism remains ongoing.
The Vienna city government is currently suing a BDS Austria representative over a Facebook post showing a poster plastered over an official city poster. Elsewhere support for the BDS can get you labeled anti-Semitic due to Austria adopting the controversial IHRA definition.
European authorities have begun introducing legislation which aims at stopping the peaceful boycott campaign but policing people's wishes not to invest in Israel's regime is proving an impossible task. Speaking to representatives here in Vienna, it's clear that they believe the pressure is an inevitable response to the movement's success in damaging Israel's influence and reputation across the continent.
Six Palestinians including elderly women killed in Israeli West Bank raids
Pakistani government pledges to restore peace in Parachinar
Symbolic watermelon joins Iranians celebrating Yalda with people of Gaza
China ‘firmly opposes’ US military aid to Taiwan
VIDEO | Press TV's News Headlines
President Yoon Suk Yeol to be removed from office
At least 19 Gazans killed by Israeli airstrikes since dawn: Medics
Leader: Iran neither has nor needs proxy forces
US fighter aircraft shot down ‘in friendly fire’ amid aggression on Yemen
Yemeni FM: Israel’s sponsors accountable for ongoing aggression on Sana’a
Eight Palestinians killed as Israel attacks Gaza school, hospitals
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
