Israeli authorities have imposed an effective travel ban on BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti, in a move condemned by Palestinians as an escalation of anti-BDS repression.
Barghouti, who lives in Acre and is a major speaker and advocate in the movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel, was denied a renewal of his travel documents.
As a permanent resident of Israel, he requires travel documents to enter and leave the country. Revoking them means he’ll be unable to continue with his frequent international appearances, in which he speaks at events in favour of BDS as means of peaceful resistance against Israel.
“I am unnerved but certainly undeterred by these threats,” Barghouti said. “Nothing will stop me from struggling for my people’s freedom, justice and peace.”
A statement from the BDS movement said that the refusal of Barghouti’s travel documents demonstrated a further crackdown on freedom of speech and potentially indicated further interest in revoking Barghouti’s residency in Israel.
Israel’s Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said at a conference earlier this year that he was “inclined” to revoke the permanent residence of Barghouti – a status the activist gained on the basis of marriage to a Palestinian citizen of Israel.
