Tim Wise (anti-racist Jewish American writer, essayist, author and educator) (2012): “ Here I lend my voice in support of the Boycott/Divestment/Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel, having been approached to do so by students at the University of Regina, in Canada. As an anti-Zionist Jew I feel morally compelled to support this effort. Though this is just a simple statement of support, I explain my views on Israel/Palestine and Zionism in a number of articles, which are available on this site, here, here, here, here, and here. I know I’ll be condemned for this position, as well as the longer articles, by those who, like me, were subjected to endless pro-Israel propaganda growing up. So be it. And I understand that this is an emotional issue for many of us who are Jews. But I submit to you that it is also an emotional issue to Palestinians, and that our pain at hearing an alternative view of facts on the ground there quite frankly pales compared to that generated by the reality with which the latter live every day. Facts are facts, and the facts are, Zionism supports, BY DEFINITION the oppression of the Palestinian people. What’s more, it is a philosophy that is historically rooted in an ironic and bizarre self-hatred for Jews, and permanent victimology. It is healthy for no one. And if you don’t like me saying that, so be it. But please keep an open mind and think seriously about these issues. They are that important” (Tim Wise, “Tim Wise Statement in Support of Israel Boycott/Sanctions/Divestment – 2012”, Tim Wise, 15 June 2012: http://www.timwise.org/2012/06/tim-wise-statement-in-support-of-israel-boycottsanctionsdivestment-2012/ ).