Polish party Razem recognizes Israel as an apartheid state, says BDS movement

RAMALLAH, Ahead of its 2022 annual congress, the Polish political party Razem has recognized Israel as an apartheid state and endorsed the nonviolent Boycott, Divestments, and Sanctions (BDS) movement for Palestinian rights, the BDS movement said in a statement today.

The BDS National Committee (BNC) warmly welcomed Razem’s principled solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality, saying this position is particularly inspiring amid the rising repression and heightened anti-Palestinian racism in Central-Eastern Europe.

The movement also said the step was also important given the strong ties between far-right governments and parties in Central-Eastern Europe with Israel’s apartheid and settler colonial regime.

“Razem’s recognition of the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and calls for ending Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians are particularly praiseworthy,” said the BDS National Committee.

“We call on all states to fulfil their legal and moral duty to end their complicity in Israeli apartheid, as they eventually did in apartheid South Africa. The first step is to acknowledge apartheid.”