Sunday, April 05, 2009

The Success of BDS

It is always difficult to quantify the success of a grassroots activist movement. It is particularly frustrating in the case of the anti-Israeli Apartheid BDS movement. Enter this short piece form the Jerusalem Post about over one-fifth of Israeli exporters suffering losses as a result of the boycott. Progress is slow, but the abnormalization of Occupation and highlighting its Apartheid-like nature is the way to go.

Local exporters are losing foreign markets and customers because of the global economic crisis and a growing anti-Israel boycott of locally made products following Operation Cast Lead, the Israel Manufacturers Association said Sunday.

"In addition to the problems and difficulties arising from the global economic crisis, 21 percent of local exporters report that they are facing problems in selling Israeli goods because of an anti-Israel boycott, mainly from the UK and Scandinavian countries ," said Yair Rotloi, chairman of the association's foreign-trade committee.

A survey conducted among 90 exporters from a variety of sectors found that 53% had lost foreign markets and customers as a result of the global economic crisis. In addition, 62% said they were having trouble collecting payments from foreign clients, while 49% said their customers have asked to pay in installments.

Foreign customers had forced 66% of Israeli exporters to cut prices because of the economic climate, the survey showed.

Twenty-nine percent of exporters reduced business travel abroad by more than 30%, 11% cut it 20%, 6.5% reduced it 10% and 43% reported no change. Twenty-six percent of exporters said business visits by their foreign customers had declined .

5 Comments:

Blogger MIchael said...

I wonder how will a boycott of Israel make problems with terror and Palestinians disappear.

What will a boycott help with solving our problems?

2:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I struggle here in Australia with boycotting Israel, Im not sure what to boycot, then when I look at the American lists there is so much...

I* do however believe boycots are effective...

12:05 PM  
Blogger Anne Vis said...

Great! Let more countries and people follow in the boycot!

7:48 AM  
Blogger Hana said...

This article brought some relief knowing there are people around the world who still believe human values are more important than cravings and consumer preference, Alhamdulilah!

5:47 PM  
Blogger Isabela said...

Good news Laila!

We copied your post alread to our Free Palestine group.

Thank you.

Isabela.

12:44 AM  

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