Boycott Israel Movement Stunts The Palestinian Economy

Forbes ^ | 2-23-15

[SJackson]

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.”

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

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As though the BDS movement has anything to do with improving the lives of palestinians. As much as creating a PLO with Arafat at it's head did.

[faithhopecharity]

one beneficial, if unintended, result of the BDS ‘movement’ is how nicely it has OUTted some Nazis ... for all to see exactly who they are, exactly where they are, how they operate, who (at least some of) their co-conspirators or enablers or financiers are,
etc.

[stephenjohnbanker]

That is true.

[dila813]

HA HA, Boycott the Palestine Occupied Territories Movement is Killing the Palestinian’s economy!

Liberals, brain dead zombies!

[SevenofNine]

HA HA take that Roger Waters he is part of that brain dead movement in the UK

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

Well done, United Church Cluck of Canada! Hasn't been anywhere near Bible believing in over 50 years, nothing but a socialist's social club.

Those who still Believe need to wrestle it back from the socialists that infiltrated it.

[samtheman]

Liberals are the true haters in this country. This story shows it. BDS helps no one. Period. It is pure hate, for the pure purpose of expressing hate.

[SJackson]

I think you’re right, I’ll give some of the true believers the benefit of the doubt. The BDS people do weave a good line, as did their predecessors last century.

[Ditto]

As though the BDS movement has anything to do with improving the lives of palestinians.

Just like Jane Fonda and the 60s punks were 'anti-war.'

[Will88]

It’s easy to cast digital stones from the comfort of a California dorm room or a posh British mansion. It’s difficult to gainfully employ some 110,000 Palestinians as Israel does, or build 16 industrial parks in the West Bank and East Jerusalem hosting 1,000 facilities where Jews and Arabs work shoulder-to-shoulder.

We sure don't hear much about that, even from supporters of Israel in the US. The reality probably is that the commercial relationship with Israel is the only thing that enables the Palestinian areas to have an even marginally viable economy.