The Palestinian BDS National Committee is the broadest Palestinian civil society coalition working to lead and support the BDS movement for Palestinian rights.
The broad consensus among Palestinian civil society regarding the need for a broad and sustained campaign for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) led to the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel, which was launched in July 2005 with the initial endorsement of more than 170 Palestinian organizations.
The signatories of this appeal represent the three main segments of the Palestinian people: the refugees in exile, the Palestinians living under occupation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and the Palestinian citizens of Israel who face discrimination.
Efforts to coordinate the BDS campaign, which began to grow rapidly after the 2005 call was made public, culminated in the first Palestinian BDS conference, held in Ramallah in November 2007. From this conference, the BDS National Committee (BNC) emerged as the Palestinian coordinating body for the BDS campaign worldwide.
The mandate and role of the BNC are:
- Strengthening and spreading the culture of boycott as a central form of civil resistance against the Israeli occupation, colonialism, and apartheid
- Formulate strategies and action plans in accordance with the BDS call of July 9, 2005, for Palestinian civil society
- To serve as the Palestinian focal point for BDS campaigns in the region and around the world
- To serve as a national focal point for anti-normalization campaigns in Palestine
- To facilitate coordination and provide support and encouragement for the various BDS campaign efforts at all locations
The BNC has offices in various parts of Palestine, a small staff spread across five countries, and a network of international partners
The BNC's main activities are:
- Campaign with BDS activists locally and globally by drafting and distributing BNC statements and speaking publicly
- Advocacy through informing policymakers and lobbying
- Monitoring and rapid response through BNC calls for action against projects and initiatives that amount to recognition of or collaboration with the Israeli regime of apartheid, colonialism, and occupation (i.e., normalization)
- Media outreach in Palestine and abroad, based on a professional media strategy
- Coordination with BDS activists locally and globally, including the preparation of regional and international organizational meetings and conferences
- Raising awareness and providing training for activists and organizations on BNC analysis, standards, and BDS campaign work; through workshops, BNC informational materials, and the BDS campaign website (www.bdsmovement.net)
- The Development of the BDS Campaign in Arab Countries
- Research and BDS Strategy Development