AUGUST 5 — The call to boycott certain countries or companies is not to be considered a new movement. In the year 1959 the Anti-Apartheid Movement, (AAM) a British organisation became the centre of the international movement that opposed South Africa’s system of apartheid. The AAM recorded their first major win in 1961 when South Africa was forced to leave the Commonwealth.
What they did was astonishing.
The AAM held a three-day vigil in the vicinity of the Commonwealth venue and had gathered like-minded allies in India, Canada and other Afro-Asian member states. In the following year, a resolution named Resolution 1761, calling all member states to impose a trade boycott against South Africa was passed within the United Nations General Assembly. This resolution had imposed economic and other sanctions upon South Africa.
UN’s Security Council, in the year 1963, called for a partial arms ban against South Africa. However, it was considered not mandatory under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
Imagine, what strong, wilful and united hearts and minds can achieve today? These precedent cases have proven that the call to boycott would surely give an impact to anyone being boycotted and in this case, it is Israel.
The impact
Earlier this year, on 30th January, Israel’s Finance Minister, Yair Lapid told the local Army Radio that the impending economic consequences of boycotts will be felt by all Israelis alike to the point that every “Israel citizen will feel (the consequences) straight in the pocket”. He also added that earlier this year, the annual cost to the economy is almost US$20 billion (RM64 billion) and the loss of nearly 10,000 jobs. On February 9th, Netanyahu who previously set aside boycotts as “unethical and unjustified” now had convened a high-level ministerial meeting to discuss the increasing boycott threats.
The boycotts on products like dates and grapes that are grown in the occupied Jordan Valley on previous year had caused a US$29 million loss. The head of the agriculture committee in the Jordan Valley, Zvi Avner reported that sales of peppers and grapes that had been made to Western Europe has seen a decrease of about 50 per cent and fresh herbs up to 40 per cent.
Furthermore, in early last month, the US Federal Aviation Administration had ordered three US carriers that fly into Israel to stop the flight for 24 hours, in fear of their safety. Europe’s aviation regulator also followed this ban by urging airlines not to fly into Tel Aviv. This surely had caused many economic impacts upon Israel’s economy and image as a country.
And these signs of boycott are becoming widespread with Denska, Denmark’s largest bank announcing that it is boycotting Israel’s Bank Hapoalim due to its activities in the Palestinian territories. G4S, which is the largest security company in the world has also announced the termination of contracts that they have signed with Israel which provided for the protection and security of the settlements.
If they are calling it quits, what are we still waiting for?
A call for humanity
On 9th July 2005, 171 Palestinian NGOs got together and started the campaign that is now being called the BDS Movement. Boycott, Divestments, and Sanctions is a global campaign trying to garner economic and political pressure on Israel so that they will finally comply with the end goal of the movement, the end of the Palestinian siege and occupation by Israel, the equality of Arab-Palestinian citizens living within Israel and the right of return for those Palestinians who seek refuge in other countries.
Even many well-known celebrities such as Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Zayn Malik of One Direction, Madonna, Rihanna and many others have shown their support for the Palestinians who are under siege by Israel. Other singers such as Roger Waters, Elvis Costello and Santana have also refused to play their concert in Israel. Humanity is what drives them to the boycott and call their fans around the world to be aware of what is happening in Palestine.
I implore you to seek inside your heart, where your humanity lies and join the call to boycott Israel and its cause.
Is it black & white, or rather grey?
I admit that there are no simple answers whenever it comes to boycotting, especially when one country’s economy simply depends on big multinational corporations (MNC) for its growth. However, it must be noted that the real target of the call to boycott is not to these companies; rather, the call to boycott is to Israel itself. What we want to achieve from the boycott is that these companies would finally withdraw their support from Israel.
I have yet to see any proper reasoning or facts stating that our economy might suffer some setbacks due to the boycotting of these gigantic MNCs and if it does hurt our economy, well maybe that is the price that we all have to pay in order to teach these MNCs a lesson they will never forget, so that they will no longer be the pillar of strength for Israel and its cause.
What’s next?
Some of my friends wonder about the real effects that the boycott campaign has over Israel. However, all that they ever do is, unfortunately, wonder. It is just rather despondent seeing them being so oblivious of fellow Muslims under siege and how they choose the easy way out; by not giving any thought or consideration at all so that they would not be guilt-ridden while consuming and using products produced by pro-Israeli companies.
While these friends of mine keep wondering and arguing, there are others taking matters into their own hands. They went all out campaigning against the buying and using of Israel-related products and also against those companies who “gallantly and valiantly” contribute to the Israeli cause. Some of them even give half of their allowances to support Palestinians and their cause. To these unsung heroes, I salute you.
Sure, it will take a longer time to actually make any difference compared to being there and joining in the fight. However, we Muslims must do what we can, the most plausible way in order to help alleviate the non-stop oppression and aggression by Israel against Palestine despite the countless times of calling for a ceasefire.
Instead of questioning, arguing and wondering, why don’t you start off today by checking out what to boycott and finding out what to replace them with.
*Muhammad Akmal Abdul Ghani is Head of Media for Pembina, Alor Star.
**This is the personal opinion of the columnist and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.
