"It is not difficult to recognize that BDS's target is not Israeli policies, but Israel itself. American political scientist Norman Finkelstein points out that BDS claims to be agnostic on Israel. However, as he also points out, their three goals only lead to one logical conclusion: the destruction of Israel. This campaign demonizes Israel through the slanderous accusation of apartheid. Israel is not an apartheid state. Israel's Basic Laws guarantee equal treatment for all citizens, including Arab-Israeli citizens. The Occupation, in spite of its brutality, is the result of a long and complex territorial conflict in which neither Israel nor the Palestinians have been without blame. The "Wall" was built for security purposes, not to enforce racial segregation. While the construction of the "Wall" has hurt Palestinians, it has also reduced the number of Palestinian attacks on Israeli citizens. This is the kind of nuance that the label "apartheid" obscures. Indeed, the word "apartheid" is not an accurate criticism of Israeli policies, but a weapon aimed at the very idea of Israel."

The McGill Daily