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The BDS Movement Calls to Boycott Arab Institutes Only When it is Convenient

On January 31, 2021 Alghad TV channel broadcasted an interview with the Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz. This is not the first time that Alghad is conducting interviews with high-ranking Israeli officials. In February 2020 Alghad broadcasted an interview with Israel’s former Prime Minister Ehud Olemert.
Following the interview with Benny Gantz, the BDS Movement issued a statement calling all Palestinians to boycott the channel, stating both interviews are a practice of normalization: “this is not the first time that this dangerous normalization is taking place on this channel – which is financed by the UAE. Alghad also hosted Ehud Olmert, the war criminal, what reflects on the ongoing involvement of the channel and its managers in conveying normalization agenda”.

Since its inception, the BDS Movement has been standing in the forefront of the battle against normalization with the State of Israel, policing engagements between Arabs and Israelis. Recently, and particularly following the peace agreement between Israel, UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco – the BDS Movement anti-normalization campaign has escalated. Few examples include calls to boycott Arab companies, and hardening their stances.

However, the BDS Movement have failed to police its own members and supporters from violating normalization guidelines. Between the period of February 2020 (Olmert’s interview) and January 2021 (Gantz interview) – Salah Al-Khawja, a prominent BDS activist in the West Bank and coordinator of Stop the Wall (a founding member of the BDS Movement) gladly interviewed for the channel. Khaled Mansour, another Ramallah-based prominent BDS activist and Stop the Wall coordinator also spoke freely to the channel.
Important to note that Al-Khawaja and Mansour are not “simply” local activist that promotes BDS on their spare time. They are both a crucial part and partners of the BDS Movement.
Appendix: Photos of Al-Khawaja and Mansour on Alghad TV and their Connection to the BDS Movement
BDS activist Khalid Mansour speaking to Alghad, June 2020
Al-Khawaja and Mansour in a BDS Movement protest, May 2019
BDS Activist Salah Al-Khawaja speaking to Alghad, November 2020
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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