The broad consensus among Palestinian civil society about the need for a broad and sustained Campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) resulted in the Palestinian Call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel that was launched in July 2005 with the initial endorsement of over 170 Palestinian organizations.
The signatories to this call represent the three major components of the Palestinian people: the refugees in exile, Palestinians under occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the discriminated Palestinian citizens of the Israeli state.
The efforts to coordinate the BDS campaign, which began to grow rapidly since the 2005 Call was made public, culminated in the first Palestinian BDS Conference held in Ramallah in November 2007. Out of this conference emerged the BDS National Committee (BNC) as the Palestinian coordinating body for the BDS campaign worldwide.
The BNC’s mandate and role is:
• To strengthen and spread the culture of boycott as a central form of civil resistance to Israeli occupation, colonialism, and apartheid
• To formulate strategies and programs of action in accordance with the 9 July 2005 Palestinian Civil Society BDS Call
• To serve as the Palestinian reference point for BDS campaigns in the region and worldwide
• To serve as the national reference point for anti-normalization campaigns within Palestine
• To facilitate coordination and provide support & encouragement to the various BDS campaign efforts in all locations
The BNC has offices in various parts of Palestine, a small staff spread across five countries, and a network of international partners.
The BNC’s main activities include:
• Campaigning with BDS activists locally and worldwide by preparing and disseminating BNC statements and public speaking
• Advocacy by briefing and lobbying policymakers
• Monitoring & Rapid Response using BNC calls for action against projects and initiatives that amount to recognition of or cooperation with Israel’s regime of apartheid, colonialism, and occupation (i.e., normalization)
• Media Outreach in Palestine and abroad, based on a professional media strategy
• Coordination with BDS activists locally and worldwide, including preparation of regional and international organizing meetings and conferences
• Awareness Raising & Training activists and organizations about BNC analysis, standards, and BDS campaign work through workshops, BNC information materials, and the BDS campaign website (www.bdsmovement.net)
• Developing the BDS Campaign in Arab countries
• Research and BDS Strategy Development
The current members of the BNC are:
- Council of National and Islamic Forces in Palestine
- General Union of Palestinian Workers
- Palestinian Union of Postal, IT & Telecommunications Workers
- Palestinian Trade Union Coalition for BDS (PTUC-BDS)
- Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO)
- Palestinian National Institute for NGOs
- Federation of Independent Trade Unions
- Global Palestine Right of Return Coalition
- Palestinian Bar Association
- Palestinian Medical Association
- Occupied Palestine and Syrian Golan Heights Initiative (OPGAI)
- General Union of Palestinian Teachers (GUPT)
- Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees (PFUUPE)
- General Union of Palestinian Women
- General Union of Palestinian Writers
- Union of Palestinian Farmers
- Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (STW)
- Palestinian Campaign for the Academic & Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI)
- Popular Struggle Coordination Committee (PSCC)
- Palestinian Federation of New Unions
- Civic Coalition for the Defense of Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem
- Coalition for Jerusalem
- National Committee to Commemorate the Nakba
- Union of Public Employees in Palestine-Civil Sector
- General Union of Palestinian Peasants
- Union of Palestinian Charitable Organizations
- Union of Professional Associations
- Women's Campaign to Boycott Israeli Products
- Palestinian Economic Monitor
- Union of Youth Activity Centers-Palestine Refugee Camps
- Agricultural Cooperatives Union
- National Committee for Grassroots Resistance
- Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU)