[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement appears to be gaining momentum. Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan in coming weeks is expected to present his plan to respond to BDS initiatives, with the cabinet allocating 100 million NIS for the effort.

MK (Yesh Atid) Yair Lapid during his visit to New York City was hosted by the Park Avenue Synagogue (Conservative), speaking in English about concerns over the BDS Movement and the need for Americans to lead the battle. Mr. Lapid explained “the tide is turning” and if “we don’t act now it will sweep over all of us”. He calls the campaign against Israel by the “Palestinians concrete and well-funded” as he makes reference to the CEO of Partner/Orange recently calling to cut ties with Israel, calling his statements “classic anti-Semitism” as he cited the need to move “from defense to offense”.

The Yesh Atid party leader explains that the people behind this anti-Israel movement are the same responsible for ” 9/11, the terror attacks in Madrid and London, and for the 250,000 people already killed in Syria.”

“In order to make this case, we need our American friends, we need the Jewish community, we need you, all of you. We are ready to provide whatever support you need but in this battle you are the frontline foot soldiers…”

See the video of his address

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)