THE BDS BACKFIRE THAT NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT

 Here’s an uncomfortable question for the boycott movement:

When you pressure Israeli companies to move their factories, who actually pays the price?

Take SodaStream. After years of international and BDS pressure over its factory in Ma’ale Adumim, the company moved production to southern Israel. Around 500 Palestinian employees lost their jobs in the process, although some were later able to return after obtaining work permits.

Then there was Bagel Bagel, which moved production from the Barkan industrial zone to northern Israel. And Ahava, which relocated production from Mitzpe Shalem to Ein Gedi, inside Israel’s pre-1967 lines, following sustained boycott pressure.

The supposed objective is to pressure Israel and help Palestinians.

But what happens when the consequence is that Palestinian workers lose employment with Israeli companies?

That is the contradiction at the heart of this debate.

For years, these workplaces provided opportunities for Israelis and Palestinians to work alongside one another. SodaStream itself became a prominent example of Jewish, Arab and Bedouin employees working together and its relocation ultimately created substantial employment in its new Negev location as well.

So before celebrating another factory relocation as a “victory”, perhaps the boycott movement should ask a rather basic question:

Who is actually being helped?

Because if an economic campaign designed to support Palestinians results in Palestinians losing their jobs, livelihoods and workplace relationships, perhaps it is worth examining the unintended consequences.

Boycotts may make a political statement. But political statements don’t pay the bills of workers who have just lost their jobs.

Think about that.