The BDS movement (boycott, divestment and sanctions) has begun to stir at Stanford University.
Students for Palestinian Equal Rights (SPER) submitted a divestment resolution to the Stanford student senate on Feb. 19. If passed, it would have the senate ask Stanford’s board of trustees to review investments in companies that “violate international law and abuse human rights in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.”
Companies named include Caterpillar, Lockheed Martin and Motorola. The resolution claims the companies facilitate “collective punishment,” and engage “in practices that institutionally discriminate against particular groups.”
At the following week’s meeting, on Feb. 26, the student senators voted to table the bill until next week.
According to the Stanford Daily, student Omar Shakir of SPER decried “Israeli war crimes and discriminatory policies” when he presented the resolution. That triggered a shouting match.
In an email, Stanford Hillel director Rabbi Serena Eisenberg said that in response, Stanford’s pro-Israel community has mobilized, with students and Hillel staff lobbying senators and preparing advocacy materials.
Said Eisenberg: “Hillel is unequivocally opposed to the divestment resolution put forward in the [senate] and we are actively supporting students in their efforts to oppose this proposal. We are grateful to the many people in the Stanford community who stand with us in support of Israel.” — dan pine