Published today (updated) 12/07/2010 21:12

Bethlehem – Ma’an – The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee marked its fifth year of action Friday, thanking participants around the globe for supporting the initiative.

Reiterating its position to support and encourage BDS against Israel “until it complies with international law and Palestinian rights,” the movement saw “spectacular growth of what is now a truly global movement for accountability.”

The past months saw a sharp increase in BDS programs, with dock workers in three nations refusing to unload Israeli cargo in the wake of the country’s raid on an aid ship bound for Gaza, which killed nine passengers.

Unions and student groups in Europe and the US have also joined the movement, voting to stop the sale of Israeli goods on campuses, remove investments from Israeli companies and other companies that support Israel or construction of settlements in the West Bank, while other groups have successfully lobbied grocery chains in Europe to stop stocking goods produced in settlements.

“After five years of BDS, the movement has proven, indisputably, to be the most effective and morally consistent form of solidarity with the people of Palestine in our struggle to end Israel’s occupation,” the committee said.

In the West Bank, the appointed government of Salam Fayyad continues to enforce a boycott of Israeli settlement goods, set to expand to include the prohibition of work in settlements for Palestinian laborers.