Paul Larudee: has Palestine been Abandonned By Its Own Leadership?

Monday, September 24, 2012 at 11:00PM Gilad Atzmon

Introduction by Gabi Weber
http://othersite.org/palestine-abandonned-by-its-own-leadership-letter-from-paul-larudee-to-al-awda-list/

Paul Larudee, the co-founder of the Free Palestine Movement and one of the leading Pro-Palestinian activists in America, posted the following text on the Al Awda list. It seems as if BDS has given up on the most essential and crucial Palestinian principles.

While BDS was initially committed to the opposition of colonisation of all Arab lands, the current BDS' goal statement merely opposes only the colonisation of Arab lands occupied in 1967.
The BDS clearly changed its goal statement.
The following text raises serious questions. Perhaps one of our readers can provide the answers.

"Dear friends,

It is with great sadness that I must propose withdrawal of al-Awda endorsement from the BDS Campaign led by the BNC until the change in its mission statement has been corrected and until a public explanation is provided for the reasons for the change as well as the procedure by which the change was implemented. A more transparent public explanation of BNC finances is also recommended.

Obviously, this is not a proposal to stop boycott, divestment and sanctions. However, BDS actions and practices do not require endorsement of a particular movement. Everything that undermines the racist Zionist state deserves our support. Nevertheless, under no circumstances can we support any statement or action that legitimates such a state, which is the problem with the BNC-led BDS Campaign.
As I reported on July 10, the original BDS mission statement reads:

"1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall"
In fact, it still reads that way on one part of the website: http://www.bdsmovement.net/call. Unfortunately, that part of the website is historical, and reports what the original mission statement was when it was issued in 2005 (when al-Awda endorsed it), and not what it is today, which is found at http://www.bdsmovement.net/bdsintro, which reads:

"1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands occupied in June 1967 and dismantling the Wall" (emphasis added)

When did this wording change? By what procedure was it amended? Were endorsers like al-Awda consulted or even notified about the change? What was the reason for the change?

1. When did the wording change?

Sorry, but I have no idea about this, and I doubt that anyone else on this list does, either. This is problematic. How can a change of this magnitude be made without the permission of its endorsers? How can endorsers be made to say something that they never endorsed? This is deception at its worst.

2. By what procedure was the statement amended?

One would think that such a change would require a proposal to and ratification by the governing committee of the BNC. However, there is no evidence that such a procedure was observed. Lacking evidence to the contrary, we must conclude that it was amended unilaterally by someone with control over the website.

3. Were endorsers like al-Awda consulted or even notified about the change?

Again, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, it appears that the change in language was introduced in the most surreptitious way possible, so as to avoid notice. One is reminded of the way the British territory of Gibraltar was enlarged by moving the boundary stones at night.

4. What was the reason for the change?

This is the most troubling part of the problem. A clue may be found in the following video, posted by Gilad Atzmon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVT6abeaGas&feature=plcp




Another clue comes from BDS Campaign founder Omar Barghouti's book, Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions: The Global Struggle for Palestinian Rights. In the introduction, Barghouti describes the goal as some Zionist right wing sources name George Soros and his Open Society Institute as helping to fund BDS and some of its member organizations.

 We know that Soros is a "soft" Zionist and wants to preserve a Jewish state. Is his funding or that of any other funding organizations a reason for the change in the mission statement?

A full disclosure of funding sources and amounts, as well as any and all conditions of funding is needed. In addition, the use of those funds, including line item amounts, is needed in order to demonstrate accountability.

I again wish to express my sorrow at bringing these matters to your attention. I hope that my concerns are unjustified. However, I also hope that you will agree that this is an issue that must be addressed.
Paul Larudee"

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian
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