Omar Barghouti

Omar Barghouti has become one of the most recognizable figures in the international effort to challenge the post-9/11 narrative of perpetual war and occupation. The Palestinian born human rights activist, author, and political analyst is renowned as the founding member of the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Barghouti holds a BA in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University and an MA in philosophy and the ethics of contemporary culture from Tel Aviv University, which he completed while working in Tel Aviv and Ramallah. His academic training has been an important asset in helping to construct the moral and political framework for the BDS movement, as evidenced in his writings and speeches.

Barghouti’s 2008 book, ‘Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions: The Struggle for Palestinian Freedom,’ has become a classic text in the international campaign for Palestinian rights. In it, Barghouti outlines why BDS has become the primary form of non-violent resistance to Israel’s occupation and oppression of Palestinians, and recounts the successes already enjoyed by the movement.

In addition to his scholarship on BDS, Barghouti has written extensively on a variety of topics, including the question of Palestinian statehood, human rights and international law, reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis, and the right of return. His writings have been featured in major newspapers and magazines, such as The New York Times and The Nation, and can also be found in academic journals and books.

Yet even as his scholarship and writing continues to inform the debate on the Palestinian struggle, Barghouti remains best known as the face of the BDS movement. Since its launch in 2005, Barghouti has been at the forefront of the movement, advocating for the boycott of Israeli goods and services, divesting of investments in companies complicit in Israel’s human rights abuses, and promoting economic sanctions against the Israeli government. From rallies to teach-ins to conferences, Barghouti has been a constant presence in the international struggle to support Palestinian rights and freedom.

With his tireless efforts, Barghouti has helped to galvanize the BDS movement and make it an influential global force, drawing the attention of individuals, colleges and universities, trade unions and organizations, and governments worldwide. In the process, he has become a hero for many, and has shown what one person, committed to justice, can do to effect change.

As the BDS movement continues to grow,Barghouti’s political philosophy is becoming increasingly relevant. Through his writings and speeches, he has been able to communicate the moral and legal issues behind the struggle for Palestinian freedom. In this way, Barghouti has become a thought leader, inspiring others to take action and recognize the power of non-violent resistance in the struggle for an just and equitable future.