Boycott Israel Movement Stunts The Palestinian Economy

[Saint Frankenstein]

A push to “boycott, divest and sanction” (BDS) Israeli companies has limited impact on the credit profile of Israel, yet it directly harms its intended beneficiaries, the Palestinians. The BDS movement, including universities, pension funds and leaders of some Christian denominations (to the chagrin of many congregants), ignores economic data. And it coincides with a disturbing rise of violent anti-Semitism across Europe.

“The impact of BDS is more psychological than real so far and has had no discernible impact on Israeli trade or the broader economy,” Kristin Lindow, senior vice president at Moody’s Investors Service and Moody’s lead analyst for Israel (in full disclosure, a former Moody’s colleague) told Forbes. “That said, the sanctions do run the risk of hurting the Palestinian economy, which is much smaller and poorer than that of Israel, as seen in the case of SodaStream.”

While the broader Israeli economy is presently shielded from BDS, one victim is SodaStream, an Israeli company manufacturing DIY soda that shuttered a West Bank factory and moved it to southern Israel. This cut hundreds of jobs for Palestinians that reportedly paid between three and five times the local prevailing wage.

SodaStream’s CEO Daniel Birnbaum denied the move was BDS-related, though its profits plunged after BDS activists locked the fizzy pop maker in its crosshairs.

“It has nothing to do with politics; we’re relocating to a modern facility that is three times the size,” Birnbaum told The Independent. “But if it was up to me, I would have stayed. We showed the world Arabs and Jews can work together.”

The numbers speak for themselves: Israel (population 8.3 million) has GDP of $291 billion, the Palestinian Territories (population 4.1 million), $11.3 billion. In 2012, Israeli sales to the Palestinian Authority were $4.3 billion, about 5% of Israeli exports (excluding diamonds) less than 2% of Israeli GDP, according to the Bank of Israel. In 2012, Palestinian sales to Israel accounted for about 81% of Palestinian exports and less than a percentage point of Israeli GDP. Palestinian purchases from Israel were two-thirds of total Palestinian imports (or 27% of Palestinian GDP).

Such trade flow asymmetry shows Palestine needs Israel, economically speaking. Yet the BDS crowd would impair economic ties between these areas, despite evidence that trade between peoples lessens outbreak of war. BDS-ers want to obliterate the vast trade surplus Israel extends to Palestine and offer nothing in its place.
Rest of article here: Boycott Israel Movement Stunts The Palestinian Economy - Forbes

Good job, idiots. You're hurting the very people you pretend to fight for.

Also:
Palestinian activists enforce Israel boycott: 'You have 48 hours to get rid ... - Israel News, Ynetnews
Despite ban, Israeli products still abound on Ramallah store shelves | The Times of Israel

Also, some brain dead artists have decided to boycott Israel:
The Cultural Boycott of Israel Isn’t Solidarity, It’s Condescension - artnet News

 

[gsa]

This is actually the aim of BDS, or at least the BDS that is being embraced in the West. The purpose of BDS is not to target Israel, but Israeli settlement activity. The activists in the West Bank who helped organize it were well aware that it would have a negative impact on Palestinian livelihood in the short term; the short term loss was just deemed worthwhile if it meant the end of the West Bank occupation.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

I remember when people boycotted South Africa, there were many who said that will impoverish all South Africans, not just the supporters of apartheid. I don't remember that argument carrying much weight, or being backed by the ANC.

When I find Palestinians opposing the boycott, I'll listen to their reasons — but I shan't be reading the opinions of Zionist apologists.

 

[CMike]

So basically the BDS movement simply doesn't care that it's hurting the arabs in the west bank.

The arabs that work for SodaStream are one of the most highly paid arabs in the area.

BTW I am a proud Zionist. There is nothing to apologize for.

 

[gsa]

So basically the BDS movement simply doesn't care that it's hurting the arabs in the west bank.

The arabs that work for SodaStream are one of the most highly paid arabs in the area.

BTW I am a proud Zionist. There is nothing to apologize for.

The BDS movement says that they are hurt more by illegal settlements. You disagree of course, but there is no shortage of popular support for that kind of boycott within the Palestinian community.

 

[CMike]

The BDS movement says that they are hurt more by illegal settlements. You disagree of course, but there is no shortage of popular support for that kind of boycott within the Palestinian community.

Jews building homes are not illegal settlements.

Apparently the managed to hurt a lot of "palestinian" workers.

SodaStream Moves West Bank Factory - The Atlantic

"Seen by its opponents as a legitimizer of internationally condemned Israeli settlements, the company and its supporters often pushed back by touting SodaStream's record of hiring Palestinian workers and paying them wages equal to Israeli workers. Earlier this year, Ahmed Nasser, a Palestinian SodaStream employee from Ramallah, praised the company, telling Haaretz that "he receives an hour-and-a-half worth of breaks in a standard 12-hour shift, and that prayer times are not deducted from break allowances.""

 

[gsa]

Jews building homes are not illegal settlements.

Apparently the managed to hurt a lot of "palestinian" workers.

SodaStream Moves West Bank Factory - The Atlantic

"Seen by its opponents as a legitimizer of internationally condemned Israeli settlements, the company and its supporters often pushed back by touting SodaStream's record of hiring Palestinian workers and paying them wages equal to Israeli workers. Earlier this year, Ahmed Nasser, a Palestinian SodaStream employee from Ramallah, praised the company, telling Haaretz that "he receives an hour-and-a-half worth of breaks in a standard 12-hour shift, and that prayer times are not deducted from break allowances.""

The settlements are illegal, and even the US opposes them. You've been over this with others before, but there are very few people who accept the "Judea and Samaria" argument.

 

[metis]

The settlements are illegal, and even the US opposes them. You've been over this with others before, but there are very few people who accept the "Judea and Samaria" argument.

Actually it's a small number of them that possibly are, but even they are at least somewhat conjectural because of the legalize issue that even the Israeli courts have had a hard time dealing with.

 

[CMike]

The settlements are illegal, and even the US opposes them. You've been over this with others before, but there are very few people who accept the "Judea and Samaria" argument.

Really? Prove that they are illegal?

Cite the international law that if a foreign country invades your country, loses territory, that your country has no right to build homes there.

Go ahead try. I am asking for the specific law, not what the arab controlled UN thinks.

 

[gsa]

Actually it's a small number of them that are.

A small number that are illegal?

 

[CMike]

Jews building homes are not illegal settlements.

Apparently the managed to hurt a lot of "palestinian" workers.

SodaStream Moves West Bank Factory - The Atlantic

"Seen by its opponents as a legitimizer of internationally condemned Israeli settlements, the company and its supporters often pushed back by touting SodaStream's record of hiring Palestinian workers and paying them wages equal to Israeli workers. Earlier this year, Ahmed Nasser, a Palestinian SodaStream employee from Ramallah, praised the company, telling Haaretz that "he receives an hour-and-a-half worth of breaks in a standard 12-hour shift, and that prayer times are not deducted from break allowances.""

Maybe the Palestinian Authority will now provide them with unemployment insurance.

 

[metis]

A small number that are illegal?

Yes. My understanding is that most were built on land purchased by Jews in Zone C.

 

[gsa]

By the way, I would think real hard before arguing that the settlements are legal. If the settlements are not illegal, and part of Israel, then Israel is unquestionably an apartheid state that is not living up to the obligations of equal treatment of citizens, including the Palestinians who reside in the West Bank.

 

[metis]

By the way, I would think real hard before arguing that the settlements are legal. If the settlements are not illegal, and part of Israel, then Israel is unquestionably an apartheid state that is not living up to the obligations of equal treatment of citizens, including the Palestinians who reside in the West Bank.

Israel was created as a Jewish state by the U.N., and it never was assumed that all others who lived there would have to be treated legally equally as far as representation is concerned. As it is, Israeli Arabs have more democratic representation than any nearby country in the region.

 

[gsa]

Israel was created as a Jewish state by the U.N., and it never was assumed that all others who lived there would have to be treated legally equally as far as representation is concerned. As it is, Israeli Arabs have more democratic representation than any nearby country in the region.

Sorry, but this is just twisting and bending to justify the status quo. The same UN resolution that "created" Israel created a Palestinian state, and we can go round and round about the acceptance of the legitimacy of this resolution for Israeli purposes and the delegitimization of UN resolutions for all other purposes. Even if there was no guarantee of representational equality, which is dubious, what is in place is certainly not self-determination.

Israel can end the occupation or it can become an apartheid state. Those are the options, unpleasant as they are for Israelis.

 

[CMike]

By the way, I would think real hard before arguing that the settlements are legal. If the settlements are not illegal, and part of Israel, then Israel is unquestionably an apartheid state that is not living up to the obligations of equal treatment of citizens, including the Palestinians who reside in the West Bank.

You are referring to the arab settlements in Judea and Samaria?

 

[CMike]

Sorry, but this is just twisting and bending to justify the status quo. The same UN resolution that "created" Israel created a Palestinian state, and we can go round and round about the acceptance of the legitimacy of this resolution for Israeli purposes and the delegitimization of UN resolutions for all other purposes. Even if there was no guarantee of representational equality, which is dubious, what is in place is certainly not self-determination.

Israel can end the occupation or it can become an apartheid state. Those are the options, unpleasant as they are for Israelis.

And the arabs didn't accept the resolution. They invaded Israel the first day it was enacted.

 

[metis]

Sorry, but this is just twisting and bending to justify the status quo. The same UN resolution that "created" Israel created a Palestinian state, and we can go round and round about the acceptance of the legitimacy of this resolution for Israeli purposes and the delegitimization of UN resolutions for all other purposes. Even if there was no guarantee of representational equality, which is dubious, what is in place is certainly not self-determination.

Israel can end the occupation or it can become an apartheid state. Those are the options, unpleasant as they are for Israelis.

It's is not at all "dubious" if you check the UN resolution. This has been discussed many times over, and you can try and paint this any way your mind takes you, but Israel exists as a Jewish state as was designed, and that's it. If you don't accept that, that's your choice.

 

[gsa]

It's is not at all "dubious" if you check the UN resolution. This has been discussed many times over, and you can try and paint this any way your mind takes you, but Israel exists as a Jewish state as was designed, and that's it. If you don't accept that, that's your choice.

I accept that Israel exists. I don't accept its occupation, and unless it withdraws or incorporates the Palestinians into the state in a manner consistent with international law, it will not be able to sustain its Jewishness

 

[CMike]

I accept that Israel exists. I don't accept its occupation, and unless it withdraws or incorporates the Palestinians into the state in a manner consistent with international law, it will not be able to sustain its Jewishness

That is quite a concession that you realizes Israel exists. I am proud of you.

I think the arabs in judea and samaria should be given a path to become legal resident or citizens. if they wish to become citizens they need to swear an oath to the country and join the IDF look other Israeli citizens.

If not they should return back to their homelands of Jordan or Egypt.