The intellectual dishonesty of Israel's supporters is appalling. But in some ways it is also understandable.

How else could they respond to the massively growing boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign?

When a non-violent campaign - empowered by thousands of committed civil society activists from South Africa to Sweden and most countries in between - leads a moral campaign to isolate and hold to account an apartheid country like Israel, all that country's supporters can do is spread lies and misinformation.

There can be no other strategy - unless of course Israel's friends get their own moment of moral awakening and join the BDS flood that has already broken many barriers.

According to their logic, and that of the likes of Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, writing in the New York Observer earlier this month, legendary musician and human rights champion Roger Waters is an "anti-semite."

In fact, according to Boteach, he is an "anti-semite" of the worst type.

"I've read some heavy-duty attacks on Israel and Jews in my time, but they pale beside the anti-semitic diatribe recently offered by Roger Waters, co-founder and former front man of the legendary British rock band Pink Floyd."

Of course Waters is as far away from racism as Boteach is from truly representing the Jewish people or Judaism.

But what has earned Waters such a title, which is often swiftly bestowed on anyone who dares to challenge Israel's criminal policies, military occupation or violation of over 70 United Nations resolutions, is that Waters is a strong critic of Israel.

In a recent interview, Waters described Israel as a "racist apartheid regime," decrying its "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians and refusing to perform in a country that he saw as an equivalent to the "Vichy government in occupied France."

Boteach is particularly daring to go after Waters, a person adored by millions, and not only because of his music but also his well-known courageous and moral stances.

But once again, the panic felt in pro-Israeli circles is understandable.

What Israeli officials describe as the delegitimisation of Israel is approaching critical mass.

It is what Palestinian Gaza-based BDS activist Dr Haidar Eid referred to in a recent interview as Palestine's South Africa moment.

In an article in the Israeli daily Haaretz entitled "Swell of boycotts driving Israel into international isolation," Barak Ravid made this dramatic but truthful statement: "Western activists and diplomats are gunning for Israel's settlements in the Palestinian territories, and if peace talks fail, the rain of boycotts and sanctions could turn into a flood."

The BDS campaign is rapidly gaining ground.

I am writing these words from Spain, the last stop on a European speaking tour to promote the recently published French edition of my last two books.

At the heart of all my talks was the importance of redefining our relationship to the struggle in Palestine, based first and foremost on "moral divestment" from Israel.

Only then can we change our role from spectators and sympathisers to active participants as human rights defenders.

What I learned throughout my tour was even to surprise me.

For many years Palestinian activists have been attempting to push the boundaries of the debate. This faced much resistance, even from groups and movements that are viewed as progressive.

But the situation has now changed. I was no longer having to defend the virtue of BDS as a tactic - the audience were wanting to discuss the most effective BDS strategies.

Within the two weeks of my travels, there was a flood of news of Western governments, companies and academic institutions either joining the boycott or considering doing so.

The Romanian government, for example, is refusing to allow its labourers to work in illegal Jewish settlements. A few years ago this kind of news was simply unheard of.

But what changed? In some respects, nothing - that is the point.

The Israeli occupation is more entrenched than ever, the illegal settlements are increasing and expanding and the so-called peace process remains a charade maintained mostly for political self-serving reasons.

But other factors are changing as well. BDS activists have found a common strategy and are formulating a unifying narrative that is finally liberating the Palestinian discourse from factionalism, empty slogans and limiting ideology.

The new platform is both decisive in its morality and objectives, yet flexible in its ability to encompass limitless groups, religions and nationalities.

Indeed, there is no room for racism or hate speech on BDS platforms.

What is equally as important is that there can also be no space for gatekeepers who are too sensitive about Israel's racially motivated sensibilities or those seeking to manipulate history in such a way to prevent a proactive strategy being advanced.

The BDS campaign has sailed through all of this. It is becoming the new and permanent mode of international solidarity with the struggle of the Palestinian people.

When Waters took the stances he did, he knew that the likes of Boteach would immediately denounce him as "anti-semitic."

However the number of people who, like Roger Waters, are getting behind the BDS campaign is growing rapidly and the power of their moral argument is spreading. Israeli smear tactics are not only ineffective but also self-defeating.

n Ramzy Baroud is an internationally syndicated columnist, a media consultant and the editor of PalestineChronicle.com. His latest book is My Father Was a Freedom Fighter: Gaza's Untold Story" (Pluto Press, London).