This Monday morning in Jerusalem a conference will take place on how Israel and Jews around the world can combat BDS. This movement was founded over a decade ago to promote a boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel and Jews.

Proponents argue that this is a justified response to Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. Supporters of Israel point to the campaigns similarities with laws that emanated in Nazi Germany. Simply put, BDS is anti-Semitism wrapped in the language of the politically correct.

Israelis note that boycotting Israel today – and why just Israel, as opposed to China or the many countries that abuse human rights such as through the use of the death penalty – is plainly hypocritical. Just take one level: Intel, Facebook, Google, Samsung and hundreds of other multinationals, who dominate lives of all, have large r&d centres in the Holy Land. Israeli know-how is thus present in the daily lives of billions.

On a micro level, I was struck by three stories over the past few days that show how BDS fails to comprehend the realities on the ground.

Shamir Salads is located in the heart of the West Bank. It has annual turnover of around US$35 million, primarily fuelled by exports to Europe. Employing dozens of Palestinians, all are paid with full social security payments such as national insurance and pension schemes.

Zvi Meir owns three textile factories in the Palestinian territories. He employs over 200 hundred locals. He estimates that his workers earn close to double what they could make in similar Palestinian enterprises.

And then there is Adel Sharfati. If you look him up on the internet, you will see that he is an Arab resident of East Jerusalem, very much opposed to the policies of the Israeli government. And yet, this man is about to be accept a special prize awarded annually by the Jerusalem City Council.

Why? Because Sharbati’s specialty is to resolve disputes between neighbours, which often have violent overtones. He never had any formal training and yet has been sought after by locals for over 30 years. Now his efforts are being formally recognised.

My point is that it would seem that BDS is clearly having traction in causing some neutrals in Europe and in the USA to despise Israel, and thus de facto to despise Jews.

On the other hand, the list of interactions between Jews and non Jews in all parts of Israel, including the West Bank is actually very long. You can observe this every day in hospitals, on the light railway in Jerusalem, in the Kenesset and elsewhere. These are all signs of Israel’s multifaceted, democratic society.

Evidently, BDS campaigners need to ramp up their hatred further if they wants to meet their targets.