A BDS movement protest in Australia. Photo: Takver via Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – The World Zionist Congress has approved a resolution opposing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement “in all its forms.” The measure also includes language condemning BDS measures that target the disputed territories.

The resolution was first proposed by the Zionist Organization of American (ZOA) at last year’s gathering of the World Zionist Congress, which meets once every four years. After several reviews and debates, the resolution was approved Nov. 2 by a 100-person representative World Zionist Congress “Vaad Hapoel” (working committee).

The measure urges “opposing and combating BDS against Jewish businesses and academic and cultural institutions and Jewish/Israeli individuals, artists and academics in Israel, in territories controlled by Israel, and around the world.”

The ZOA praised the resolution, saying in a statement that “BDS in any form is anti-Jewish discrimination.”

“It should not matter if a Jew is living in New York or Berlin or Saudi Arabia or Tel Aviv or over the Green Line in Efrat,” the ZOA said. “BDS is anti-Jewish discrimination no matter where someone lives.”

The World Zionist Congress — established by Theodor Herzl in 1897 — is the supreme organ of the World Zionist Organization, which is comprised of bodies including the World Zionist Unions, international Zionist federations, and other international organizations such as Hadassah, B’nai B’rith, and the Maccabi World Union.