One of alQaws’ major political activities over the last few years has been our effective response to the Israeli government’s PR campaign commonly known as ‘pinkwashing.’  This strategy, adopted by the Israeli state and the pro-Israel lobby, ais to distract American and European audiences from the illegal Israeli occupation and larger Apartheid policies, by promoting Israel as a progressive liberal state; a 'gay haven' in the midst of an oppressive and homophobic Palestinian society and Arab world.  Members of alQaws have been especially active in drawing attention to the brutal Human Rights violations committed by the Israeli state against Palestinians, which ‘pinkwashing’ seeks to veil.

alQaws is pleased by the increasing debate around pinkwashing and the growing local and international activism dedicated to counter pinkwashing activities and to challenge the discourse around it. In the last year we witnessed a move from Pinkwashing to proactive and strategized pinkWATCHING efforts. These efforts have included the launching of the new website Pinkwatching Israel that aims “to bring together vibrant queer activists from around the world to imagine, visualize, create and launch campaigns, initiatives, events, and actions for BDS and against pinkwashing.” In addition we were pleased to read the important support statement that calls LGBTQ artists, academics and activists to support the anti- Pinkwashing effort and to join the growing Boycott movement launched in January 2012 by the LGBTQ solidarity delegation to Palestine. We also witnessed a large number of articles published in media variety of outlets, including but not limited to Sara Schulman's op-ed in the New York Time, with Maya's Mikdashi's article in Jadaliyya and Jasbir Paur's article published in The Feminist Wire.