Israeli and pro-Israeli media outlets on Wednesday announced the upcoming launch of a coalition in New York City aimed at countering the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, as well as anti-Zionist activism.
The media push included a blog post by one of the coalition's leaders in The Times of Israel titled 'Why We as Muslims Oppose BDS'.
The coalition says it seeks "to benefit Israel, its Arab citizens and Palestinians employed by Israeli companies", arguing that boycotts harm both Palestinians and Israelis.
It also says it aims to raise at least $500,000 by encouraging 500,000 supporters to each contribute $1 by 9 October. The funds would be invested in Israeli treasury bonds and donated to four organisations: Sharaka, the Jerusalem Interfaith Centre, the Combat Antisemitism Movement, and Debate for Peace. The New Arab takes a closer look at the anti-BDS "Unbreakable Bond Coalition" and the groups behind it. Which groups are in the coalition? The coalition consists of at least five organisations - the American Muslim & Multifaith Women's Empowerment Council (AMMWEC), the Muslim Women Speakers Bureau, the Global Youth Unity Project (GYUP), the Abrahamic Public Relations Council, and Muslims–Israel Dialogue. It also includes individuals who have advocated for normalisation with Israel .
AMMWEC describes itself as a "non-profit women's rights organisation empowering Muslim women to confront bigotry in all its forms". The group regularly hosts multifaith events and earlier this year held an interfaith gathering sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a prominent pro-Israel advocacy organisation. The event featured UAE-based pro-normalisation advocate Loay Alshareef.
Another coalition member, the Global Youth Unity Project, is headed by Mansoor Laghari, who describes himself as a "Muslim Zionist".
Laghari authored Wednesday's Times of Israel blog post announcing the coalition and earlier this year wrote for the same publication about attending the annual Israel Day Parade in New York.
The Muslim Women Speakers Bureau describes itself as the "world's largest talent agency dedicated to speaking against hate and extremism - and to championing the fight against Antisemitism and Antizionism, the Abraham Accords, Middle East peace, Islam, Jewish-Muslim relations, women's leadership, religious freedom, interfaith collaboration, gender equity, and community organising". Support for Israel, scorn for pro-Palestine movement Several individuals affiliated with the coalition's member organisations have publicly expressed support for Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, where more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. Israel's aggression has also been described as genocide by leading rights organisations, including Amnesty International, as well as UN experts.
Asra Nomani, a journalist listed on the Muslim Women Speakers Bureau's roster, posted several images of herself wearing an "Israeli Defence Forces" hoodie during the early weeks of the war and encouraged her followers to do the same.
"I know you’re busy destroying Hamas but IO team must share a link to worldwide sales of @IDF hoodies.@FIDF @IDF_General," Nomani wrote on X in November 2023, in a post appearing to encourage the Israeli army to sell merchandise to fans.
Nomani has also repeatedly criticised pro-Palestinian activism and left-wing groups in the United States, referring to them collectively as the "woke alliance".
Another speaker featured by the Muslim Women Speakers Bureau is Dalia Ziada, who has frequently criticised pro-Palestinian protests in the US and voiced support for Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
GYUP founder Laghari also shared images on social media of himself visiting wounded Israeli soldiers, describing them as being "defined by courage". Trips to Israel In contrast to the BDS movement's call for cutting ties with Israel over its occupation of Palestinian territory, several organisations involved in the coalition have organised visits to Israel.
Sheikh Musa Drammeh, a New York-based community leader involved in the initiative, travelled to Israel in 2025 after then-New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani declined to say Israel would be the destination of his first foreign visit if elected.
During a mayoral debate, Mamdani's position differed from that of his opponents, who all said they would visit Israel.
In an interview with Israel's Ynet , Drammeh said: "If we allow his [Mamdani's] refusal to go to the Holy Land, then antisemitism will increase, anti-Israel sentiment will increase, and it will be normalized."
Other members of the coalition, including the American Muslim & Multifaith Women's Empowerment Council, have also organised visits to Israel.