The American Jewish Congress commends former Vice President Joe Biden for reiterating his clear stance in rejecting the anti-Israel and anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The latest policy paper published in his campaign website states that Vice President Biden “firmly reject(s) the BDS movement — which singles out Israel and too often veers into anti-Semitism.”
Joe Biden’s opposition to the BDS movement reflects the longstanding position of the Democratic party and that of the majority of Americans. Importantly, in condemning BDS and all forms of Israel’s delegitimization, former Vice President Biden stands in stark contrast with far-left progressives such Senator Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Rashida Tlaib.
Vice President Biden acknowledged the BDS movement’s clear anti-Semitic undertone. In fact, the BDS movement denies the universal right to self-determination of the Jewish people and does not recognize Israel’s right to exist. Furthermore, the strategies and tools employed by BDS supporters are, in many cases, outright anti-Semitic.
We thank Vice President Biden for standing with Israel and rejecting the efforts to elevate the anti-Semitic BDS movement to a legitimate and acceptable form of protest. As the presumptive Democratic nominee and standard-bearer of the party, Vice President Biden’s commitment to combat the delegitimization of Israel is an important confirmation of the critical bipartisan support for the Jewish state.
