Why Boycott Matters & The Strategy

Boycott as a Weapon

The BDS Movement's Fight for Palestinian Justice

You may have encountered the acronym BDS and tried to grasp its meaning amid a sea of global political discourse. BDS, which stands for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, is a campaign launched to pressure Israel to comply with international law and respect Palestinian rights. The movement, created by Palestinian Omar Barghouti, has seen widespread support across the world and among pro-Palestine activists.

The strategy is simple and powerful: urging individuals, nations, and organizations to boycott Israeli products, divest from companies that support Israeli policies, and implement sanctions against Israel until it meets its obligations under international law.

The BDS movement seeks to economically and politically isolate Israel, similar to the global movement that helped dismantle apartheid in South Africa. Through boycotting goods, withdrawing investments, and imposing sanctions, BDS aims to highlight and penalize Israel's actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, drawing parallels to how other pariah states are treated for their violations of human rights and international norms.

Israel, for its part, has actively tried to counter the BDS movement by allocating significant resources to discredit its efforts and supporters. This includes campaigns that argue against the effectiveness and morality of BDS, suggesting that it harms not just the Israeli economy but also Palestinians employed in Israeli companies.

Despite these countermeasures, the BDS movement continues to gain ground, influencing the decisions of artists, academics, and organizations worldwide. High-profile individuals and groups have canceled events and divestments in Israel, signaling their opposition to Israeli policies. The movement's goals extend beyond economic impact; it seeks to challenge Israel's international standing and assert the rights of Palestinians on the world stage.

Participation in boycotts can vary from personal consumer choices to advocating for institutional divestment and government sanctions. It encourages a nuanced understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and calls for actions that are informed, ethical, and in line with international law. Through boycotting, activists hope to exert sufficient pressure on Israel to change its policies, striving for justice and human rights for Palestinians in a way that respects the complexities of the situation.

Historical Successes

The Effectiveness of Previous Boycott Campaigns

The South African anti-apartheid movement stands as a prominent example of how effective boycotts and sanctions can be in driving political change. Initiated by indigenous South Africans in the 1950s, the movement gained momentum over the decades, with significant milestones such as the UN's arms embargo in the 1960s, the OPEC oil embargo in 1973, and notably, the West's multilateral sanctions in the 1980s. Philip Levy from Yale University highlights the crucial role that economic and political unrest, exacerbated by these global actions, played in accelerating the downfall of the apartheid regime. A critical moment was when lenders like Chase Manhattan Bank withdrew their financial support, triggering a liquidity crisis that underscored the impact of the sanctions.

This historical context offers valuable insights into the current situation with Israel. Despite being more economically stable and heavily supported by the USA, Israel has recently had to navigate similar challenges.

Notable successes of the BDS movement include significant economic impacts, such as the notable decrease in Israel's date exports to the USA, from 10.7 million tons in 2015 to 3.1 million in 2018, following targeted campaigns against products from illegal settlements. Additionally, high-profile divestments and boycotts by individuals and organizations underscore the movement's growing momentum. Oliver Cookson, the founder of MyProtein, and various family offices, for example, have divested significant portfolios from Israeli companies. Furthermore, companies and pension funds like Veolia, G4S, CRH, PGGM, the United Methodist Church, and Norway's largest private pension fund have all withdrawn their investments in firms profiting from Israel's occupation.

These developments indicate a broader recognition and adoption of boycott and divestment strategies as effective tools for advocating for human rights and challenging occupation.

Global Pressure

Economic and Political Leverage Against Israel

Boycotts and sanctions against Israel have undoubtedly made their mark by drawing international attention to the state's policies alongside nations often criticized for their human rights records. The movement's strategic economic focus aims to challenge Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank by targeting the economic pillars that finance these activities, primarily by reducing Israel's tax receipts, which are crucial for its military expenditures.

The ultimate goal is to achieve successful sanctions against Israel and the severance of economic and political ties with key allies like Europe, the UK, and especially the USA. This would place significant pressure on Israel to comply with international laws and human rights.

Progressing from the initial stages of the boycott involves a strategic escalation toward influencing major policy shifts regarding Israel. The second step includes campaigns to urge pension funds and governments to divest from the same companies that have been boycotted. This effort relies on demonstrating widespread support and momentum, which are crucial for convincing these institutions to sever their financial ties with companies complicit in supporting controversial practices.

The third and most challenging step is advocating for significant changes in foreign policy, especially within influential nations like European countries, the UK, and the USA. Such changes will likely materialize only after the concerted efforts of the first two stages have resulted in a significant public and financial impact. This highlights that boycotting, while crucial, is not an end goal but a catalyst for broader systemic change. For this strategy to succeed, two key actions are essential: directly informing companies about the boycott against them to generate public pressure for change, and expanding the movement's focus from boycotting to advocating for widespread divestment.

From Consumption to Change

A Guide to Boycotting and Financial Responsibility

The journey begins with a personal review of one's consumption habits, identifying key companies that contribute to or support controversial activities in occupied territories. Our website serve as valuable resources, offering well-founded boycott lists based on credible reports, such as those from the UN, and supported by a coalition of Palestinian organizations. This process can reveal daily interactions with companies that, once recognized, can be avoided or replaced, such as preferring Netflix over a Disney subscription due to the latter's inclusion on the boycott list.

Significant emphasis is placed on financial institutions, which play a role in channeling loans and bonds to Israeli companies. This underscores why it is crucial to divest from banks and investment companies identified as harmful. Transitioning to more ethically aligned banks, such as moving an account from HSBC to Starling, represents a tangible step in reducing one's complicity in supporting controversial actions.

Technology and computer industries contribute significantly to Israel's economy, accounting for 18.1% of the country's GDP and almost 50% of its exports. This makes it especially important to be extra vigilant as a consumer when purchasing products such as computers, smartphones, kitchen appliances, etc.

The act of boycotting goes beyond personal and financial adjustments; it's also about expressing opposition. Directly communicating with boycotted companies and politicians amplifies the message, informing them about the boycott and the rationale behind it. By educating ourselves and each other, and by taking active steps to address and counter support for unjust practices, we can contribute to creating a wave of change.

As the boycott movement continues to grow and evolve, its influence and outcomes will undoubtedly be the subject of ongoing debate and pressure against Israel and its allies. Through perseverance, education, and collaboration, we all can play a role in shaping a more just and sustainable future.