Israel bans BDS supporters as Trump signs Muslim ban 2.0

March 6, 2017–Today, Israel passed a bill barring foreign supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement for Palestinian rights or supporters of boycotting settlements from entering the country. Jewish Voice for Peace is the largest Jewish organization that supports the nonviolent, grassroots movement to use the tactics of boycott, divestment and sanctions to put pressure on Israel to end its violations of international law and Palestinian rights. Jewish Voice for Peace released the following statement from Executive Director Rebecca Vilkomerson:

“On the same day as the Trump administration signed the second version of an unconstitutional and discriminatory executive order barring visitors from specific Muslim countries, Israel just passed its own discriminatory travel ban barring supporters of nonviolent tactics to end Israel’s violations of Palestinian rights.

My grandparents are buried in Israel, my husband and kids are citizens, and I lived there for three years, but this bill would bar me from visiting because of my work in support of Palestinian rights. The profiling and denial of entry that Palestinians have long faced when traveling to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories is now being extended to apply to anyone who supports boycotts and other acts of conscience to oppose Israel’s policies. Israel is a place where I have family, friends and many wonderful (as well as many terrible) memories from every stage of my life. I’m very proud to support the BDS movement, and hope that the response to this ban will hasten the day when anyone can travel there freely.”

For interviews please contact Naomi Dann media@jvp.org | 845-377-5745

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Jewish Voice for Peace (jvp.org) is a national, grassroots organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for a just and lasting peace according to principles of human rights, equality, and international law for all the people of Israel and Palestine. JVP has over 200,000 online supporters, over 60 chapters, a youth wing, a Rabbinic Council, an Artist Council, an Academic Advisory Council, and an Advisory Board made up of leading U.S. intellectuals and artists.