Overview: Beth Baron is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and the president of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA).
As the MESA president, Baron has written dozens of letters to the Israeli government condemning its actions and defending terrorists.
Baron is a professor of Middle Eastern Studies and the Graduate Center of City University of New York (CUNY).
Condemning the Israeli Government
Since assuming her position as MESA president in 2016, Baron has authored dozens of letters to members of the Israeli government, including to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Education and the Public Security Minister.
Throughout her letters, Baron refers to the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) as the “Israeli occupation authorities," and Israel as “Occupied Palestinian Territories."
Baron also expresses support for convicted terrorists and individuals detained by Israeli security forces, including Omar Barghouti and Imad Barghouthi.
Baron has also written letters on behalf of those participating in the 2017 hunger strike, participants of which are mostly convicted terrorists being held in Israeli prisons.
Support for BDS
Although MESA has not, as of 2017, taken an official position on BDS, there have been reports of growing support for the movement under Baron’s leadership.
On August 6, 2014, Baron signed her name to a petition of scholars and librarians, calling for the academic boycott of Israel.