Israel seeks to deport activists who support boycott

JERUSALEM – Israel says it will seek to deport or bar the entry of activists calling for a boycott against the country.

A statement Sunday from Israel’s Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan says a team will be set up to find and deport the “hundreds” of boycott activists currently in Israel and work to keep others out.

The statement says dozens of organizations work in Israel to “gather information and use it to advance the boycott against Israel.” It did not name those groups.

An international movement known as BDS calls for boycotts, sanctions and divestment from Israel in what it says is a nonviolent struggle against occupation.

Israel says BDS’ goal is to destroy the country, and it has identified the movement as a serious threat.