Palestinian officials affirm 'respect' for BDS after Abbas disavowal
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Palestinian officials in South Africa released a statement clarifying that they are not opposed to the boycott of Israel on Friday.
The statement comes in the wake of controversial anti-boycott statements made by Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas while he was visiting South Africa to mark the death of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela.
The statement, which was released jointly by the Embassy of Palestine in South Africa and BDS South Africa, stopped short of declaring its support for the boycott of Israel.
It did, however, confirm its support for the boycott of Israeli settlement products and stressing that it "respect(s) and uphold(s) the right of Palestinian civil society to initiate and lead local and global BDS campaigns."
The statement also expressed "deep appreciation" for the efforts of the international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement "to uphold international law and universal principles of human rights."
http://www.maannews.net/ENG/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=658870
