Abstract
This chapter examines the key manifestations of the BDS movement in Australia from 2002 to the present day. Particular attention is drawn to the activities of the University of Sydney Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, the New South Wales Branch of the Australian Greens, a small number of trade unions, and the protests against the Max Brenner Chocolate Shop. The BDS movement has arguably had little impact on mainstream Australian political parties and public debate in terms of influencing attitudes towards the State of Israel. But it has succeeded in poisoning segments of academic discourse around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and at times excluding moderate voices in favour of a negotiated two-state solution from progressive debates.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abraham, D. (2017, December, 2–3). The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Israel Horizons.
Aikman, A. & Shanahan, L. (2011, April 20). Greens forced to back down on boycott. The Australian.
Albanese, A. (2011, January 14). Local government goes beyond the pale with boycott of Israel. The Australian.
Alhadeff, V. (2019, April 27). Eurovision’s message of hope defies BDS stridency. The Australian.
Ali, F. (2015, March 25). Why I protest. Honi Soit. Online at. https://honisoit.com/2015/03/kemp-protest-in-detail
Alterman, E. (2018). The BDS campaign’s unpopular front. Democracy Journal, 47.
AUSPalestine: Australian Unionists Supporting Palestine. (2019a). About us.. Online at https://auspalestine.org/about
AUSPalestine: Australian Unionists Supporting Palestine. (2019b). Our statement. Online at https://auspalestine.org/our-statement
Australia Palestine Advocacy Network. (2019). APAN objectives. Online at https://apan.org.au/about/apan-objectives
Australians For Palestine. (2011, August 9). AFP refutes Jewish group’s comparison of BDS protests to Nazi anti-Semitic acts. Press Release. Online at http://australiansforpalestine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/MR31AJDS-compares-BDS-to-Nai-anti-Semitism-9Aug11.pdf
Avnon, D. (2014). BDS and the dynamics of self-righteous moralism. Australian Journal of Jewish Studies, 28, 28–46.
Barghouti, O. (2011). BDS: Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions: The global struggle for Palestinian Rights. Haymarket Books.
Baxendale, R. (2019, May 18). Candidate exposes party split. The Australian.
BDS Australia. (2019). About us. Online at https://www.bdsaustralia.net.au/about
Brophy, D. (2015a). The renewed witch hunt against Australian champion of Palestinian rights. Electronic Intifada 6 (April). Online at https://electronicintifada.net/content/renewed-witch-hunt-against-australian-champion-palestinian-rights/14405
Brophy, D. (2015b). Why won’t Sydney University admit its professor Jake Lynch has been cleared of anti-Semitism? Electronic Intifada 24 (April). Online at https://electronicintifada.net/content/why-wont-sydney-university-admit-its-professor-jake-lynch-has-been-cleared-anti-semitism
Brull, M. (2015, March 18). Blaming the victims: What really happened at the Colonel Kemp USyd protest. New Matilda. Online at https://newmatilda.com/2015/03/17/blaming-victims-what-really-happened-colonel-kemp-usyd-protest
Brull, M. (2016a, March 14). Brave and better targeted: The Greens new policy on boycotting Israel. New Matilda. Online at. https://newmatilda.com/2016/03/14/brave-and-better-targetted-the-greens-new-policy-on-boycotting-israel
Brull, M. (2016b, March 15). Failed BDS campaigns in Australia: The benefits of a more targeted approach. New Matilda. Online at. https://newmatilda.com/2016/03/15/failed-bds-campaigns-in-australia-the-benefits-of-a-more-targeted-approach
Bullimore, K. (2012). BDS and the struggle for a free Palestine. In A. Loewenstein & J. Sparrow (Eds.), Left turn: Political essays for the new left. Melbourne University Press.
Bullimore, K. (2013, August 9). The ABC of BDS and international solidarity. Online at http://livefromoccupiedpalestine.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-abc-of-bds-and-international.html
Chalmers, M. (2014, October 28). Melissa Parke breaks Labor ranks to back BDS campaign against Israel. New Matilda. Online at https://newmatilda.com/2014/10/27/melissa-parke-breaks-labor-ranks-back-bds-campaign-against-israel
Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine. (2019). Become a member. Online at https://coalitionforpalestine.org
Cragg, D. (2010). Report on Boycott Divestment Sanctions (of Israel) Conference. Victorian Trades Hall Council Executive Council.
Department of Peace and Conflict Studies. (2017). BDS—Driving global justice for Palestine conference program. Online at https://www.bdssydney.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Conference-programme-final-for-web.pdf
Docker, J., & Hage, G. (2002). A call for an Australian boycott of research and cultural links with Israel. Arena Magazine, 59, 23–24.
Dyrenfurth, N. (2014, April 19). Boycotting Israel another impediment to peace. The Saturday Paper. Online at https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2014/04/19/boycotting-israel-another-impediment-peace/1397829600
Ferguson, J. (2012, August 6). Unions fuelling Israel protests. The Australian.
Fester, C. (2015, March 25). Not anti-Semitic. Honi Soit. Online at https://honisoit.com/2015/03/kemp-protest-in-detail
Franklin, M., & Aikman, A. (2011, March 28). Anti-Israel stance focus of Greens review. The Australian.
Hage, G. (2003). Against Paranoid Nationalism. Pluto Press Australia.
Han, E., & Rane, H. (2013). Making Australian Foreign Policy on Israel-Palestine. Melbourne University Press.
Hartcher, P. (2010, June 22). What am I, chopped liver? How Rudd dived into schmooze mode. Sydney Morning Herald. Online at. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/what-am-i-chopped-liver-how-rudd-dived-into-schmooze-mode-20100621-ys5g.html
Haslam, S. (2019, May 13). Sydney gathers in solidarity with Palestine on the 71st anniversary of the Nakba. Honi Soit. Online at http://honisoit.com/2019/05/sydney-gathers-in-solidarity-with-palestine-on-the-71st-anniversary-of-the-nakba
Higgins, E. (2014a, March 5). Boycotted Israeli embraced by other fellows. The Australian.
Higgins, E. (2014b, June 11). Israel sanctions backers miffed. The Australian. Online at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/israel-sanctions-backers-miffed/story-e6frgcjx-1226949822263
Higgins, E. (2015a, April 15). Woman denies kicking BDS guru in groin. The Australian.
Higgins, E. (2015b, May 27). Uni warns Lynch over conduct during melee. The Australian.
Horovitz, D. (2004). Still Life with Bombers: Israel in the Age of Terrorism. Alfred A. Knopf.
Howes, P., Leahy, M. & Appelbaum, C. (2009, May 21). Unions move to turn tide on boycotts of Israel. The Australian.
Jakubowicz, A. (2003, February 8). Anatomy of a boycott. Sydney Morning Herald. Online at. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/07/1044579925054.html
Kamien, A. (2014, October 31). Shorten: ALP opposes BDS. Australian Jewish News. Online at https://ajn.timesofisrael.com/shorten-alp-opposes-bds
Karkar, S. (2010). Boycott divestment sanctions: A Global campaign to End Israeli Apartheid. Australians for Palestine.
Karvelas, P. (2010, October 15). Unions to take Israel boycott plan to ACTU. The Australian. Online at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/unions-want-actu-to-endorse-protest-plan-against-israeli-settlements/story-e6frg6nf-1225938911111?nk=67f3d457195a1233d1de191da0fea1c0
Kemp, R. (2015, March 17). Protesters disown their university values. The Australian.
Kennedy, G. & Kossy, J. (2011, April 19). Councils can help Mid-East peace. National Times. Online at http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/councils-can-help-mideast-peace-20110418-1dlj9.html
Kerr, C. (2012a, December 6). Uni peace centre rebuffs Israeli civics teacher. The Australian. Online at. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/sydney-university-peace-centre-rebuffs-israeli-civics-teacher/story-e6frgcjx-1226530838896
Kerr, C. (2012b, December 8). Centre chief rebuked over snub to Israeli. The Australian.
Kerr, C. (2013, April 30). PM denounces activists as anti-Israel protest turns anti-Semitic. The Australian. Online at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/julia-gillard-denounces-activists-as-anti-israel-protest-turns-anti-semitic/story-e6frgcjx-1226631889398
Kerr, C. (2015, December 15). Church motion on Israel hurtful. The Australian.
Kerr, C. (2016, February 25). Uni set to demote Peace Centre. The Australian.
Kohn, P. (2010, October 8). JCCV slams boycott decision. Australian Jewish News.
Lawrence, D. (2015). Rewriting the rules of engagement: New Australian Jewish connections with Israel. In S. Burla & D. Lawrence (Eds.), Australia & Israel. Sussex Academic Press.
Le Grand, C. (2011, August 16). Pro-Palestinian leader condemns violence at Brenner boycott. The Australian.
Levin, N. (2010, December 10). Israel boycotts now official NSW Greens policy. Australian Jewish News. Online at https://ajn.timesofisrael.com/israel-boycotts-now-official-nsw-greens-policy
Lynch, J. (2008). Debates in Peace Journalism. Sydney University Press.
Lynch, J. (2011a, February 8). Toeing the lobby line. New Matilda. Online at http://newmatilda.com/2011/02/08/toeing-lobby-line
Lynch, J. (2011b). Expanding Peace Journalism. Sydney University Press.
Lynch, J. (2011c, October 24). Letter to Professor John Hearn.
Lynch, J. (2015, May 27). I have been cleared. The Australian.
Maley, P. (2011, January 13). Council boycott of Israel self-indulgent. The Australian. Online at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/council-boycott-of-israel-self-indulgent/story-e6frg6nf-1225986604144
Manning, P. (2019). Inside the greens: The origins and future of the party, the people and the politics. Schwartz Publishing.
Marrickville Council. (2011, April 19). Minutes of Council Meeting.
Maynard, J. (2019, March 7). Paul Duffill: BDS promoter who masquerades as a peacebuilding expert. Fresh Air. Online at https://aijac.org.au/fresh-air/paul-duffill-bds-promoter-who-masquerades-as-a-peacebuilding-expert
Mendes, P. (2006). A case study of ethnic stereotyping: The campaign for an academic boycott of Israel. Australian Journal of Jewish Studies, 20, 141–168.
Mendes, P. (2011, 23 March). Advocating peace or promoting conflict and discrimination? The strange case of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. Galus Australis. Online at http://galusaustralis.com/2011/03/4254/advocating-peace-or-promoting-conflict-and-discrimination-the-strange-case-of-the-centre-for-peace-and-conflict-studies
Mendes, P. (2015). The Australian Greens and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In S. Burla & D. Lawrence (Eds.), Australia & Israel. Sussex Academic Press.
Mendes, P. (2018). Attempts to exclude pro-Israel views from progressive discourse: Some case studies from Australia. In A. Pessin & D. S. Ben-Atar (Eds.), Anti-Zionism on Campus: The University, free speech and BDS. Indiana University Press.
Mendes, P., & Dyrenfurth, N. (2015). Boycotting Israel is wrong: The progressive path to peace between Palestinians and Israelis. NewSouth Publishing.
Munayyer, Y. (2018, April 16). The two state solution is dead, supporting it is supporting occupation. The Forward. Online at https://forward.com/opinion/398897/the-two-state-solution-is-dead-supporting-it-is-supporting-occupation
Narunsky, G. (2015, May 22). Di Natale on Israel, BDS, the community. Australian Jewish News. Online at https://ajn.timesofisrael.com/di-natale-in-his-own-words
Neighbour, S. (2012). Divided we fall. The Monthly, 75, 21–28.
Nelson, C. (2016). Dreams Deferred: A concise guide to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict & the movement to boycott Israel. Indiana University Press.
Nelson, C. (2019a). Conspiracy pedagogy on campus: BDS advocacy, antisemitism and academic freedom. In A. H. Rosenfeld (Ed.), Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism: The Dynamics of Delegitimization. Indiana University Press.
Nelson, C. (2019b, July). Israel and the left: Three studies of the crisis. Fathom Magazine. Online at http://fathomjournal.org/israel-and-the-left-three-studies-of-the-crisis-3-israel-denial-and-the-university
O’Brien, J. M. (2015). National tertiary education union. UNSW Press.
Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network. (2019). About. Online at https://pien.org.au/about
Parke, M. (2014, November 14). BDS a legitimate means of advancing peace efforts. Canberra Times. Online at https://iajv99.wordpress.com/2014/11/16/canberra-times-op-ed-bds-a-legitimate-means-of-advancing-peace-efforts
Perry, L., & Saunders, M. (2003, October 24). Vote on Ashrawi award not split. The Australian.
Poddebsky, J., Keeda, P., & Kessler, C. (2018). Colonel Richard Kemp at the University of Sydney, Australia, March 11, 2015. In A. Pessin & D. S. Ben-Atar (Eds.), Anti-Zionism on Campus: The University, Free Speech and BDS. Indiana University Press.
Ramsey, A. (2003, October 25). Here’s Lucy, caving in, taking flight. Sydney Morning Herald. Online at http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/24/1066974313719.html
Rees, S. (2003, October 22). A craven approach to peace and justice. Sydney Morning Herald.
Rees, S. (2013a, November 20). Truth, justice, peace: The moral and legal foundations of the BDS movement. ABC Religion and Ethics.
Rees, S. (2013b, October 28). Two thousand defendants for human rights. New Matilda. Online at https://newmatilda.com/2013/10/28/two-thousand-defendants-human-rights
Rees, S. (2014a, October 2). An Israeli walk for Palestinians and BDS. New Matilda. Online at https://newmatilda.com/2014/10/02/israeli-walks-palestinians-and-bds
Rees, S. (2014b, April 26). Another view on BDS. Saturday Paper.
Rees, S. (2014c, April 15). The Israel lobby’s goal is silence. New Matilda. Online at https://newmatilda.com/2014/04/15/israel-lobbys-goal-silence
Rees, S. (2014d, January 29). Australian academics should stand up for Palestine. New Matilda. Online at https://newmatilda.com/2014/01/29/australian-academics-should-stand-palestine
Rees, S. (2015, May 14). Backing Palestine: The language of oppression. New Matilda. Online at https://newmatilda.com/2015/05/14/backing-palestine-language-oppression
Rees, S. (2016, September 4). Opposing the criminalization of protest: The BDS movement as a beacon. New Matilda. Online at https://newmatilda.com/2016/09/04/opposing-the-criminalization-of-protest-the-bds-movement-as-a-beacon/
Rees, S. (2017). BDS: Driving global justice for Palestine. New Matilda, July 17. Online at. https://newmatilda.com/2017/07/17/bds-driving-global-justice-for-palestine
Rees, S. (2019, January 15). Redefining free speech: Opposing Israel is not anti-Semitism. New Matilda. Online at https://newmatilda.com/2019/01/15/redefining-free-speech-opposing-israel-not-anti-semitism
Riemer, N. (2015, March 25). Why Jake Lynch was waving money around at an anti-Israel protest. Crikey.com. Online at https://www.crikey.com.au/2015/03/25/why-jake-lynch-was-waving-money-around-at-an-anti-israel-protest
Riemer, N. (2017). Boycott is clear path to two-state dialogue. The Australian, July 26. Online at. http://sydneystaff4bds.org/?p=2423
Riemer, N. (2018a, October 23). Boycotting Eurovision: Why aren’t progressives doing more for Palestine? New Matilda. Online at https://newmatilda.com/2018/10/23/boycotting-eurovision-arent-progressives-palestine
Riemer, N. (2018b, May 15). Nakba Day: The Palestinian slaughter goes on but a path to peace is possible. New Matilda. Online at https://newmatilda.com/2018/05/15/nakba-day-palestinian-slaughter-goes-path-peace-still-possible
Riemer, N. & Brophy, D. (2015, May 8). Right to boycott: Against the complicit quietism of Mendes and Dyrenfurth. ABC Religion & Ethics. Online at https://www.abc.net.au/religion/right-to-boycott-against-the-complicit-quietism-of-mendes-and-dy/10098314
Rowbotham, N. (2014, June 6). Union backs away from BDS motion. New Matilda. Online at https://newmatilda.com/2014/06/06/union-backs-away-bds-motion
Rutland, S. & Allington, W. (2019). Countering antisemitism at the University of Sydney, Australia. In V. Stead (Ed.), Confronting Anti-Semitism on Campus. [in press].
Ryvchin, A. (2017). The role of governments in the assault on Israel’s legitimacy Part II: The case of Marrickville. In A. Ryvchin (Ed.), The Anti-Israel Agenda. Gefen Publishing.
Salusinszky, I. & Shanahan, L. (2011, April 15). Boycott call cost Greens state seat. The Australian. Online at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/boycott-call-cost-greens-state-seat-in-marrickville/story-fn59niix-1226039401886
Salusinzky, I. (2011, October 26). Palestinian consul rejects BDS violence. The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/palestinian-envoy-backs-bds-but-condemns-anti-israel-violence/story-fn59niix-1226176664563&memtype=anonymous
Shanahan, L. (2011, April 19). Greens boycott rebounds. The Australian. Online at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/greens-boycott-rebounds/story-e6frg6z6-1226041184878
Shanahan, L. & Maley, P. (2011, April 16). Israel boycott anger grows. The Australian. Online at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/israel-boycott-anger-grows/story-e6frg6nf-1226039947023
Slezak, P. (2013, November 6). Is it anti-Semitic to protest injustice? New Matilda. Online at https://newmatilda.com/2013/11/05/it-anti-semitic-protest-injustice
Stewart, C. (2011, August 20). Anti-Israel bullies’ hard centre bites in chocolate shop campaign. The Australian. Online at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/anti-israel-bullies-hard-centre-bites-in-chocolate-shop-campaign/story-e6frgd0x-1226118406097
Stillman, L. (2011, September 8). AJDS criticizes disruptive BDS protests. Email Newsletter. Delivered by info@ajds.org.au
Sydney University Staff for BDS. (2015a, May 26). Sydney University’s decision not to dismiss Jake Lynch highlights baselessness of the Israel lobby’s campaign against him . Online at http://sydneystaff4bds.org/?p=2364#comment-7248
Sydney University Staff for BDS. (2015b, April 8). Open letter to University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor: Dr Spence, reject calls to punish Palestine-justice supporters. Online at http://sydneystaff4bds.org/?page_id=219
Sydney University Staff for BDS. (2018a, May 19). After Gaza massacre, academic boycott of Israel spreads at Australian universities. Online at http://sydneystaff4bds.org/?p=2489
Sydney University Staff for BDS. (2018b, April 12). After Gaza killings, academic boycott of Israel takes off at Sydney University. Online at http://sydneystaff4bds.org/?p=2461
Tovey, J. (2011, December 5). Greens abandon official support for Israel boycott. Sydney Morning Herald. Online at https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/greens-abandon-official-support-for-israel-boycott-20111205-1odzh.html
Visontay, E. (2015, March 25). It felt wrong. Honi Soit. Online at https://honisoit.com/2015/03/kemp-protest-in-detail
Vlazna, V. (2013, May 7). Wherefore by their friends ye shall know them: Zionists vs UNSW BDS. Palestine Chronicle. Online at http://www.palestinechronicle.com/wherefore-by-their-friends-ye-shall-know-them-zionists-vs-unsw-bds
Wallace, R. & Balogh, S. (2015, July 27). Right hails anti-BDS motion as a victory on pro-Israel front. The Australian.
Wertheim, P. (2011). BDS suffers a Defeat in Australia: The Marrickville Council Controversy. Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
Wertheim, P. (2013). Executive Council of Australian Jewry annual report. Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
Wertheim, P. (2015, March 30). Lynch’s supporters dig him into a deeper hole. Jwire. Online at http://www.jwire.com.au/lynchs-supporters-dig-him-into-a-deeper-hole
Wertheim, P. (2017, July 27). Disingenuous on Israel. The Australian.
Wertheim, P. & Nathan, J. (2013, April 30). The ugly face of student activism. The Australian. Online at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/the-ugly-face-of-student-activism/story-e6frgd0x-1226631853245
Wertheim, P., & Ryvchin, A. (2014). The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Campaign against Israel. Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
Zwartz, B. (2010, August 17). Christians, Jews meet on boycott. The Age. Online at http://www.theage.com.au/national/christians-jews-meet-on-boycott-20100816-126y1.htm
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Mendes, P. (2022). The BDS Movement in Australia: A Case Study. In: Kenedy, R.A., Rebhun, U., Ehrlich, C.S. (eds) Israel and the Diaspora: Jewish Connectivity in a Changing World. Studies of Jews in Society, vol 3. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80872-3_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80872-3_13
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-80871-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-80872-3
eBook Packages: Religion and PhilosophyPhilosophy and Religion (R0)