On Tuesday, the Corvallis City Council could have chosen one of two paths for Councilor Briae Lewis’ BDS resolution; stop it cold or send it back to staff for a more finalized draft. Their vote came up four to four; Mayor Charles Maughan broke the tie with a vote in favor of seeking a new draft. When it comes back, there will be more debate and another vote.
Ostensibly about money, the resolution has been a hot-button issue around town, but the controversy has not been about dollars.
BDS stands for Boycott, Divest, Sanction. The BDS movement describes itself as Palestinian led, and among other things it seeks to have cities divest from investments in Israeli companies, and companies that support or derive profits from Israel. They and their founder openly state that their goal is to eliminate the state of Israel. Many Corvallisites have come to believe the BDS movement is a desirable path to peace in the Middle East.
Most Jewish people, however, see that as Jew-hate, or antisemitism. When American Jews are polled, they are overwhelmingly against BDS, and most view it as antisemitic. The American Jewish Congress found 80% of Jews that know what BDS is see it as antisemitic. Nationally, Pew found only 10% of Jews support BDS.
From another aspect, the BDS movement would be defined as antisemitic under most any internationally accepted definition. In 2019, Germany’s parliament codified that in a resolution.
Back in Corvallis, during the public comments portion of Tuesday’s Council meeting, Corvallisite Ariella Wolf portrayed a local Jewish community that is increasingly being harassed. She said many Jewish people are choosing to leave the community. Councilor Carolyn Mayers in her comments expressed the same concerns. Written testimony in the meeting packet came in along the same lines.
Privately, other city leaders have said there is an uptick in harassment, and they are aware of Jewish families leaving Corvallis.
The vote among Councilors to advance the BDS resolution was split. Yeses included Councilors Paul Shaffer, Alison Bowden, Charlyn Ellis and resolution sponsor Briae Lewis.
Councilor Ava Olson was absent.
Nos included Councilors Jim Moorefield, Jan Napack, Tony Cadena and Carolyn Mayers.
What’s next
The Council has asked city staffers and attorneys to come back with a redrafted resolution that includes language protecting the City from third-party lawsuits. They also directed staff to look for a kinder and gentler sounding list of companies to divest from. You’ll see why in a minute.
The originally contemplated divestment list comes from a BDS supporter with strong ties to the movement. The Council has directed staff to find a ‘short’ list for divestiture, but at the same time, they have directed them to use the same exact BDS affiliated organization as the source.
Now, about that source. Lewis’ draft doesn’t directly identify the BDS movement or Israel, but it does refer to Investigate.info as the place the City is to find lists of companies to financially divest from. When you navigate to the site, their lists have titles like, Divesting for Palestinian Rights and Companies Profiting from Gaza Genocide. Their lists share many commonalities with BDS lists.
The site is a project of the American Friends Service Committee. And the language they use could have easily been pasted directly from the BDS movement’s website. Which one could also say of Lewis’ resolution. At this point, even the folks favoring the resolution generally acknowledge it’s a BDS proposal.
So, the try at not naming Israel or the BDS movement has probably ended. No specific timeline appears to be in place, but we expect this to be back on the Council’s agenda later this month, or early next.
Analysis
During deliberations, Councilors Moorefield and Cadena pointed out the City currently has no investments in any of the American Friends Service Committee’s subject companies. They, along with Councilor Napack, criticized the resolution as having no practical impact other than to foment deeper divides here, in our community. Cadena posited that Corvallisites should be calling congress. Indeed, when The Advocate asked Congressional Rep. Val Hoyle about her stance on the war in Gaza, she said she supports suspending arms sales to Israel.
By Hallie Greenberg
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