– Zameer Yameen
The BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement is a Palestinian-led initiative that advocates for freedom, justice, and equality. The BDS movement began when a coalition of 170 Palestinian civil society groups issued a call to “people of conscience” around the world on July 9, 2005. Its objectives include:
- Ending the occupation and dismantling Israel’s illegal wall and settlements.
- Demanding full equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel.
- Upholding the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Palestinians argue that a global citizens’ movement is necessary because – despite decades of “peace process” facade – political leaders have failed to end Israel’s settler-colonialism, ethnic cleansing and apartheid practices. In fact, they continue to enable them. Therefore, only bottom-up pressure from ordinary people will force governments to end Israel’s impunity and help create a just peace based on freedom, justice and equality.
What has the Movement Achieved?
In the decade since its launch, the BDS movement has gradually accumulated successes around the world, from US churches to UK campuses, Egyptian trade unions to the Bolivian government from investment funds to companies and from students, authors, influencers to musicians and film makers. Also, it is endorsed by anti-colonial Jewish groups and Israelis.
Starbucks franchisee Alshaya Group announced around 2,000 job cuts, approximately 4% of its workforce. That decision, which came due to “tougher trading conditions,” follows regional and international boycotts of major companies like McDonald’s, KFC, Amazon, Coca-Cola, Disney, etc.
In the economic sphere, Veolia and G4S – multinational corporations involved in Israel’s oppression of Palestinians – lost billions of dollars due to BDS campaigns and announced withdrawals from Israel. Foreign direct investment into Israel dropped 46 percent in 2014.
Meanwhile, Tens of thousands of students globally engaged in pushing forward the academic boycott. Which resulted several universities in the US and Europe to have vote to divest funds from Israel or Israel-linked companies since last October, and these efforts are likely to continue.
The BDS has turned into a global citizen movement supported by people irrespective of their caste, religion, race, nationality etc. on humanitarian grounds
Expert’s Opinion!
For the boycott campaigns to be successful, several components have been identified by the scholars.
Firstly, for consumers to eschew any product they see linked with a cause they disagree with, it has to be something that has clear alternatives. Fast food chains like McDonald’s, KFC (even though it’s not actually linked to Israel but rather seen as a symbol of ‘American imperialism’) and Starbucks are among the biggest losers of the current movement, especially in the Middle East, precisely because there are several alternatives available for such products. This is also why companies like Google, Amazon, and Oracle Software (which have all been identified by the BDS movement as being linked to Israel) have not been affected much, given the fact that there are no major software/platform that can act as an alternative.
Secondly, the importance of social media and news agencies cannot be undermined. They have helped to disseminate the information well beyond the geographical boundaries of the event, from the Middle East to Europe and the rest of the world. There are apps such as No Thanks, Boycat and Buycott have helped the users to identify and search for alternatives.
Importantly, a strong boycott of any corporate entity is not just useful because of people not buying the product but also because the reputation or goodwill of such companies are affected leading to shareholders getting spooked and pulling out their investments from such companies. The falling stock valuation of such corporations can represent huge losses for such companies.
Today, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which since 2005 has described itself as “a Palestinian-led movement for freedom, justice and equality,” and others like Jewish Voice for Peace, are at the forefront. Beyond targeting specific brands, such movements also aim to push companies into divesting from Israel, and ultimately pressure Israel into ending its decades-long occupation in the Palestinian territories.
Take-Away
Given the impact the movement is having, one of our main responsibilities should be to boycott the companies, as some other more viable options which can be availed, are not available. We should not refrain from putting our share as every penny counts and verily, we’ll at least be able to answer Allah SWT in the hereafter and surely everyone will find their deeds even of an atom’s weight. (Al Quran – 99:7)
Most importantly, once the conflict subsides and the situation begins to return to normal, we should not revert to our previous habits and must continue this struggle and should not forget and move on.
May Allah SWT be our supporter and helper and guide us to the right path. Ameen!
