Center for Gulf Studies' Lecture on "Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanction"

On Tuesday October 29, 2013, the Center for Gulf Studies (CGS) at the American University of Kuwait hosted a joint lecture by Omar Barghouti, independent researcher and human rights activist; and Abdullah Al Naibari, a former parliament member and a founding member of Kuawit's democratic platform. The Lecture, which was entitled "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions," came as part of the Kuwait-Palestine series, a CGS initiative encouraging an open-ended discussion of the various facets of the history between Kuwait and Palestine and the importance of this relationship for both.

Al Naibari kicked off the two-part lecture by discussing the history of the Arab League's boycott of Israel, during which he explained the systematic economic isolation of Israel by Arab states, and the various degrees to which both Arab and non-Arab nations have implemented it.

Following Al Naibari's segment of the lecture, Barghouti discussed the history of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and how crucial it remains today. He outlined what role Kuwait has played in the success of the movement, and then concluded by affirming the need for solidarity over charity.

After the lecture, a lively question and answer session took place, allowing both speakers to expand upon their previous thoughts and introduce new points as well. Both speakers urged members of the audience to partake in the struggle to end Palestinian oppression, and stressed the importance of action over agreement and the need for persistence at all levels of BDS.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 11th November 2013