NLRB Confirms Legality of Union Support for Israel Boycott; Union Condemns Political Attacks on BDS

[Mc Mike]

10. I didn't claim to speak FOR J street and NIF, but I get and study their take on the issues regularly

It would be a mistake for you to claim that I mischaracterized their position on BDS. And I back the 2 State solution, like they do. How to get there is the issue, but no solution will come from the current hard right junta. I'd like to see Ben-Ami, Beinert, Blumenthal, and Krugman have a free-wheeling forum on Pro-Israel, Pro-Peace, BDS, and the 2 State solution. (Not trying to be sexist in my choice of those 4 guys, I've just seen interactions between all of those people who I find to be admirable thinkers in sets of two on the issues, where they disagreed tactically with each other.)

With more illegal settlement building by the current 'zealous' Israeli leaders, I definitely will refuse to buy products from those settlements, because I'm not helping subsidize this crazy exercise in making more enemies who have legit gripes. A boycott is a good union move, a good civil rights move, and is effective. And I'll lobby for divestment and sanctions to help make the rock headed hard liners see the error of their ways because, as an ally that wants our equipment and logistical backing, they sure do seem to have gone broken arrow on us.

And I would never wish harm to Rabin's political heirs, but I'll do what I think is right, as I know they do. There is no litmus test for correct thought on our side, there just is one on the right wing's side. J Street and NIF are a welcome answer to AIPAC for me, AIPAC has disgusted me with their support for crazy apocalyptic fundy 'christian' US pols. But I never signed on to agree lockstep with them on tactics and advocacy.

And there is racism in US unions, some rank and file, some institutional. You're right, there. Their membership should be reflective of the population demographics of the labor markets they represent, and more should be done to include women equally, as well.

On edit, I do appreciate your 2 links. Point 3 of J Street's amplifies the kind of BDS they do support. And so does NIF in the 4th sentence of their #14 policy position statement. It's the difference between global(general) BDS with some anti-semitic elements who I don't want to be involved with, and BDS against the illegal settlements.