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Itongadol.- "De-legitimization of Israel must be fought, and you are on the front lines," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told attendees in a letter read aloud at a BDS emergency summit organized by Sheldon Adelson in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
"It’s not about this or that Israeli policy. It’s about our right to exist here as a free people," the prime minister stressed.
"And I thank each and every one of you for defending Israel on campus. Young Jews will know they can stand tall and be proud of Israel," he continued.
Thanks to such efforts to combat the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement (BDS), "friends of Israel can be armed with facts to defend the truth," Netanyahu said.
"And so everyone will see that Israel, the most embattled democracy on earth that seeks a genuine peace while fending off the forces of barbaric terrorism, deserves their support," he added.
Concurrently Netanyahu held talks with several officials over the weekend regarding the possible plans of action to combat BDS.
The talks included Strategic Affairs and Information Minister Gilad Erdan, whose office\’s perview includes fighting BDS, as well as other officials from relevant ministries.
The Israeli government is debating ways to improve cooperation between the different government agencies fighting BDS, and Jewish organizations abroad.
The talks included issues of funding and resources for battling the boycott campaign. Netanyahu and Erdan agreed that his office will receive at least NIS 100 million, most of which will go to fighting BDS.
Erdan\’s office will also receive 10 new positions for employees who will deal solely with the boycott and de-legitimization activities against Israel.
The minister mentioned that he is flooded with calls from Jewish leaders from across the globe, who want to join the effort against BDS.
Erdan estimated that the budget can double or triple to NIS 300 million with the help of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations.
The campaign against the BDS needs to include government ministries, intelligence agencies and the defense community, as well as increased cooperation with Jewish organizations, he said.