Mahmoud Sarsak is a Palestinian footballer who has played for the Palestinian national team. He was released from prison by Israel in July after three years of detention and 92 days of hunger strike that was supported by people of conscience all over the world, including prominent football figures.

The controversy generated by Newt Gingrich's outrageous statement last year that Palestinians are "an invented people" should have led to greater caution in the formulation of politicians' public statements on Israel and Palestine.

In December 2011, several BDS activists that were acquited of the charges against them relating to their involvement in BDS actions declared that freedom of speech had won out, and their lawyer hoped that the judgement would set a precendent in favour of campaigners. However, the so-called “National Bureau for Vigilance Against Antisemitism” (BNVCA) appealed the decision.

CAIRO HELD its first official boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) event in Egypt at the independent media center Mosireen on August 27, a critical first step in challenging th