The war between Israel and Palestine is not something new to hear. The war is protracted and decades-long. However, there will always be new developments in this war. Actions against the war with violence have turned into non-violence. One of the issues that the author will describe is how the boycott is a nonviolent action to weaken the pillars of power of Israel or called a diplomatic tool. The boycott is categorized as nonviolent action number 71 in the Global Non-Violent Action data as a form of “Action by consumers” and is included in the “Nonconsumption of boycotted goods” unit[1].
BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) action is an action that occurs when there is a concern for a global response and opposition to human rights events that are considered to have been violated by Israel. This movement was started by Palestinian civilians who invited the international community to boycott, divestment and sanctions. This action aims to put pressure on Israel to comply with international rules and laws. This action began in July 2005 and continues to this day. Some countries continue to take BDS action and have strengthened their support for sanctioning food and other types of companies that support Israel. As a result, many countries have cut diplomatic ties with Israel and drawn the attention of the UN to pass a resolution for a sustainable ceasefire[2].
The concept that will be used in looking at the topic is the Nonviolent Movement. According to Gene Sharp (1973) who refers to the consent theory of power, that nonviolent action is resistance that focuses more on the opponent’s sources of power, including financial resources, citizen compliance and legal legitimacy. According to Gene Sharp, there are three categories of nonviolent action methods; First, Protest and persuasion is an action in which actors express support and disapproval of certain issues and policies through declarations, petitions, posters, marches and demonstrations. Second, Non-Cooperation is an action taken by an actor through the act of withdrawing global participation from a government practice or action that he or she disagrees with and expresses rejection of the action, for example; boycotts, strikes, embargoes. Third, Non-Violent Intervention is an action where the actor not only brings global participation in a particular practice but also actively seeks to stop it, e.g. violent blockade, nonviolent population[3].
Of the three categories above, boycott action falls into the second category. It is a non-cooperative action that advocates public disapproval of policies and actions of the government or other parties. This action invites the masses not to follow regulations, rules, and buy materials from parties that support the opposing rules. For example, the global community’s boycott of Israel encourages political leaders to come to the table and discuss how best to end Israel’s oppression under Universal Human Rights and International Law. Therefore, BDS is a diplomatic tool that is carried out non-violently by Palestinian civilians and aims for the interests of diplomacy, namely the interests of its own country. Palestinian independence and the transfer of occupation are the diplomatic goals of this BDS action.
BDS’s impact on Israel’s economy
BDS actions carried out in the economic field are where consumers stop buying or consuming a product or service because they disagree with existing variables. The BDS movement carried out by the global community on products that support Israel caused losses of up to US $ 11.5 billion per year for Israel in 2018. In addition, thousands of Israelis could potentially lose their jobs if boycotted fully on an international scale. Companies that support Israel also experience boycotts and the impact is that their shares decline and corporate cooperation with Israel also stops, causing the economy in Israel to decline[4].
According to the author, the BDS movement has created an economic boycott of Israel and developed an effective campaign against companies that participate in Israel’s oppression of Palestinians. The campaign has caused major companies such as Veolia and Orange to sell and leave Israel entirely and investors to withdraw investments from Israeli and international companies. The UN and World Bank and other experts say that BDS has an important economic impact on Israel and that this is growing as the movement grows.
The influence of the BDS movement on global politics
BDS impacts the global political order through political issues that turn into political movements. Countries concerned about human rights that have been smeared by Israel withdrew diplomatic relations from Israel because of the boycott and participated in boycotting Israel as well. For example, Bolivia announced the termination of diplomatic relations with Israel on October 31, 2023[5]. This must have an impact in the midst of the chaotic war between Israel and Palestine, Israel needs logistical and economic supply assistance from other countries. If many countries that are the pillars of Israel’s diplomatic relations in the fields of politics, trade and others are broken up. Then Israel will suffer losses and not have sufficient alliances to strengthen their power. Although the US is Israel’s strongest alliance that vetoes every UN resolution against Israel.
The BDS movement has the potential to bring the masses to be able to care about the issues and conditions experienced by victims, and know the acts of oppression experienced. The BDS movement succeeded in bringing the global community to help by boycotting in the fields of economy, food, culture, politics and so on. In the end, this has an impact on the voicing of the dismissal of the suppression of human rights carried out by Israel and as an example of boycotted FnB companies such as KFC and MCD. As a result of the company’s shares decreasing, it then provided assistance to Palestine because of the boycott.
However, for the peace of Israel and Palestine is quite difficult to achieve because of the super-power countries that still provide support to Israel. For example, on April 20, 2024 the US used its veto power to reject a draft UN Security Council resolution demanding full Palestinian membership in the UN. And also used the veto right to reject the resolution to withdraw Israeli troops in Palestine. These obstacles make boycotts not efficient enough when discussing the scope of peace resolutions by giving the interests of the two countries, it will be quite difficult to achieve. However, this action is efficient in bringing the masses to care about the situation in Palestine without involving violence. Resistance that is more focused on the opponent’s sources of power, including financial resources, citizen compliance and legal legitimacy carried out by BDS actions is a non-violent action that attracts the masses and finally the UN provides a ceasefire resolution due to the BDS movement carried out by Palestinian civilians and then now has become globalized, the impact of non-violent action becomes a diplomatic tool.
[1] BBC News Indonesia. (2023, October 24). Perang Gaza-Israel: Sejarah konflik berkepanjangan yang berlangsung puluhan tahun. https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/articles/cjr0pz20z7po
[2] Pitoko. (2023, November 6). Mengenal BDS, Gerakan Palestina Lawan Israel Tanpa Kekerasan. IDN Times. https://www.idntimes.com/business/economy/ridwan-aji-pitoko-1/mengenal-bds-gerakan-palestina-lawan-israel-tanpa-kekerasan
[3] Iis.Fisipol. (2019, October 11). Untuk apa nirkekerasan kalau. . . https://iis.fisipol.ugm.ac.id/2019/10/03/untuk-apa-nirkekerasan-kalau/
[4] BDS Movement. Economic and corporate support for Israeli apartheid. Economic Boycott | BDS Movement accessed at (29/10/2024)
[5] BBC News Indonesia. (2023, November 1). Gaza: Bolivia memutus hubungan diplomatik dengan Israel, Kolombia dan Cile tarik duta besar. https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/articles/c0djdyr14w4o
REFERENCE
BBC News Indonesia. (2023, October 24). Perang Gaza-Israel: Sejarah konflik berkepanjangan yang berlangsung puluhan tahun. https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/articles/cjr0pz20z7po
Pitoko. (2023, November 6). Mengenal BDS, Gerakan Palestina Lawan Israel Tanpa Kekerasan. IDN Times. https://www.idntimes.com/business/economy/ridwan-aji-pitoko-1/mengenal-bds-gerakan-palestina-lawan-israel-tanpa-kekerasan
Iis.Fisipol. (2019, October 11). Untuk apa nirkekerasan kalau. . . https://iis.fisipol.ugm.ac.id/2019/10/03/untuk-apa-nirkekerasan-kalau/
BDS Movement. Economic and corporate support for Israeli apartheid. Economic Boycott | BDS Movement accessed at (29/10/2024)
BBC News Indonesia. (2023, November 1). Gaza: Bolivia memutus hubungan diplomatik dengan Israel, Kolombia dan Cile tarik duta besar. https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/articles/c0djdyr14w4o
