On Feb. 19, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Judicial Board (J-Board) held a hearing to establish whether SSMU clubs or services would be permitted to adopt a stance on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, apart from the SSMU Executive Committee itself.
In a final ruling released in January, the Board ruled that criticizing certain actions of the Israeli government and voicing support for Palestinian liberation is permissible under the SSMU constitution given that such statements would not amount to a position against a specific country. BDS is a Palestinian-led movement that advocates for financial action against Israel to end international support of Palestinian occuption. It was created in response to a 2005 call from the Palestinian Civil Society. The movement targets Israel financially to pressure it to comply with international law and universal human rights.