Israel/Palestine

Israeli

(4,148 posts) Sun Jun 29, 2014, 05:21 AM Jun 2014

Boycott in the air

The European boycott of the settlements is gaining momentum, and Israel better take heed.

Haaretz Editorial | Jun. 29, 2014 | 4:29 AM

The winds of international boycott of the settlements are quickening, picking up. On Friday the Spanish and Italian governments warned citizens against conducting business with settlements in the Golan Heights, the West Bank or East Jerusalem, saying such activity could expose them to a number of legal and financial risks. France, Germany and Britain had previously issued similar warnings to their nationals.

The individual warnings by these five countries may soon become an all-European resolution. European Union institutions are considering the issue of a general warning on behalf of all 28 EU member states, and the statements by the five nations will presumably expedite these discussions. It was no coincidence that the EU envoy to Israel, Lars Faaborg-Anderson, said on Friday that the warnings indicate that EU member states “are losing their patience with concerns not being treated” by Israel.

For now, Europe is taking only small, measured steps. While the European Council last week took a firm stance last week in banning the import of goods from Crimea and the occupied city of Sevastopol, EU institutions have thus far made do with warnings only regarding the Israeli settlements. But the message is clear in the winds from Europe, and Israel cannot afford to ignore it. A European boycott of all economic activity originating would be a blow to the Israeli economy, nearly all of which is invested in the settlement enterprise, whether directly or indirectly.

The world is indeed beginning to lose its patience, as the EU envoy said. The status quo in the territories, which already has characteristics of an apartheid regime, is intolerable to the Europeans, who will not stand by indefinitely. After the last attempt to revive the peace talks, the collapse of which was largely due to Israel, friendly nations including Europe and the United States will be forced to take concrete measures against an intransigent Israel. In the 21st century, the world will not accept another 47 years of occupation, dispossession and widespread violation of the rights of an entire people.

The warning by these five states to their citizens should, therefore, become an even stronger warning to Israel’s government: If it does not hasten to take concrete steps toward ending the occupation, all Israelis will pay the price, and it could be high indeed

Source:
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/1.601819

14 replies

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Boycott in the air (Original Post) Israeli Jun 2014 OP

Thanks for the article, Israeli. R. Daneel Olivaw Jun 2014 #1

Well.... Israeli Jun 2014 #13

They warned Israel and I am glad to see these statements. Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #2

Negotiations will go nowhere. I agree. shira Jun 2014 #3

I think you misunderstood me, I did not expand on my thoughts enough, which center Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #4

Well it's good the Palestinians have a self appointed spokesman like yourself to speak for them King_David Jun 2014 #5

I express my opinions, I speak for me...you on the other hand, use "we" and "us". Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #6

Actually we were talking about the post you just posted there King_David Jun 2014 #7

Ha ha, you wish to represent all, I get that about you. n/t Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #8

I can speak for a Jew in this topic King_David Jun 2014 #10

Ha ha, no, but keep trying. n/t Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #11

Apparently the EU isn't being 'properly' swayed in their opinions azurnoir Jun 2014 #9

Godspeed. eom Purveyor Jun 2014 #12

You very dedicated to this "cause". King_David Jun 2014 #14

R. Daneel Olivaw

(12,606 posts)

1. Thanks for the article, Israeli.

Reply to Israeli (Original post)

Sun Jun 29, 2014, 09:20 AM

Jun 2014

What is the consensus in Israel amongst the non-politicians seeking photo ops? ...or at least the ones you talk to?

For the life of me I cannot understand how something so clear cut can be argued against.

For example, I am both a dual Irish-American citizen, but I have not turned a blind eye to the problems in Tuaisceart Éireann or the troubles that partition has caused.

The Good Friday or Belfast Agreement has helped bring about a sense of some normalcy, but it will take a while for some to forget.

Although there was never a threat of sanctions against England they and the Irish were able to come together to at least solve some of the problems and move forward to a peaceable solution.

I hope that Israel and Palestine can do the same without Israel finding out the hard way through sanctions.

Israeli

(4,148 posts)

13. Well....

Reply to R. Daneel Olivaw (Reply #1)

Mon Jun 30, 2014, 02:11 AM

Jun 2014

Re: " What is the consensus in Israel amongst the non-politicians seeking photo ops? ...or at least the ones you talk to? "

.... you have to consider that I have very little social communication with Right wingers Daneel , I know a few but I've learnt to stay clear of any discussion regarding my political believes with them ...so " the ones you talk to " tend to be likeminded or Centralists .

The Centralists tend to 'poo poo' any suggestion of boycotts having an affect but it worries them ...most Centralists are middle class and are already not happy with the economic security especially if they are my age ...they see their children/grand-children struggling to be able to afford housing .....one of the reasons they voted for Yair Lapid .

Us on the Left connect boycotts to the struggle against the occupation ....in the past we accepted any boycott of settlement goods as legitimate , the international boycott that included Israel Proper hurt a lot of feelings ...but ...since the last farce of ' Peace talks ' we have come to realise that it is the way forward ...Bibi has left the left with no choice .

BTW ... we call the occupation " The longest war ".....if you want to understand read here :

http://adam-keller2.blogspot.co.il/2014/06/the-longest-war.html

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)

2. They warned Israel and I am glad to see these statements.

Reply to Israeli (Original post)

Sun Jun 29, 2014, 09:56 AM

Jun 2014

My fear is this is merely a means to get back to negotiations and the course
of those negotiations they were on, will continue as before, not leading to a viable state.

shira

(30,109 posts)

3. Negotiations will go nowhere. I agree.

Reply to Jefferson23 (Reply #2)

Sun Jun 29, 2014, 10:06 AM

Jun 2014

So realistically speaking, boycotts are meant to bully Israel (against the will of its people) into unilateral withdrawal, which will not result in peace or an end to the conflict.

So what's the point if peace isn't the goal? How does this ultimately help the average Palestinian since the IDF is the only force keeping Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, etc... from imminent takeover? Forget the threat to Israelis, as I know that's not an issue in this forum. Realize that Jordan now fears ISIS takeover. Without an IDF force in the Jordan Valley (after withdrawal) that leaves the W.Bank open to such an invasion. So again, how does this help Palestinians?

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)

4. I think you misunderstood me, I did not expand on my thoughts enough, which center

Reply to shira (Reply #3)

Sun Jun 29, 2014, 10:34 AM

Jun 2014

around Abbas.

He was willing last time to give up too much, and it was only Israel's determination
to expand settlements during the negotiation period that resulted in the blow up.

Notice how Livni and Peres right now are stroking Abbas in the press..those two know they
need him to wrap this deal down.

I don't trust Abbas, but I will add I appreciate the pressure he was under from the US/EU,
which was fierce...so there is that, too.

Now that we have the problem of the kidnapped kids, bets are off.