Is Hampshire Typical of BDS?

FAQ #7: Is what happened in Hampshire typical of the behavior of the BDS “movement?”

Because divestment has proven so unpopular with students, educators and college administrators, BDS activists often have to go to great lengths to obtain anything they can portray as some kind of victory. While outright fraud (as in Hampshire) has yet to be repeated, more common questionable behavior includes portraying petition drives (even those out-petitioned by anti-divestment activists 10:1) or student council votes (even unsuccessful ones) as representing campus opinion.

There has also been a tendency of BDS leaders to meet with administrators or student government leaders behind closed doors, hoping to obtain support before Israel’s supporters are aware that divestment decisions or votes are underway.

Finally, when discussing divestment with school or student leadership, BDS activists will often “sell” less-controversial messages such as “ethical investment” or “human rights,” only to turn around after gaining some level of support to declare that an institution is entirely in agreement with their real message that Israel is an “Apartheid State” alone in the world deserving economic punishment. More than one institution has had the unwelcomed experience of having the words of the BDS movement “stuffed into its mouth” by this type of bait-and-switch tactic.