Anti-Israel demonstration in Cairo
צילום: AP
Egyptians conflicted over Israel boycott
Powerful organizations in Egyptian market not moved by public's pressure to impose trade boycott on Israel, say they cannot force members to do so, decision is a personal choice
Operation Cast Lead in Gaza has stirred up harsh anti-Israel sentiments on the streets of Egypt, and many cries have been heard calling for trade ties with the Jewish state to be cut.
However, the Egyptian market's powerful organizations did not give in to the pressure and have not called for a boycott.
The Egyptian trade union federation, the country's largest and most important organized commerce body, did publish a very severe condemnation of the Gaza operation, but did not urge its members boycott their Israeli colleagues.
Mohammed Almasri, the president of the federation that was founded in 1923 and has some 3.5 million members, explained that his organization did not have the ability to force its members to halt trade with Israel. "Anyone that wants to boycott, can boycott," Almasri said.
Chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Industries, Galal El-Zorba made similar comments on the matter, saying his organization could not issue an order to boycott Israel, since Egypt is bound by the Qualifying Industrial Zones agreement that allows the export of joint goods to the American market with reduced restrictions.
The Federation of Industries represents 22,000 factories from 10 different sectors that employ some three million people.
According to Egyptian data, the mutual trade between Israel and Egypt in 2008 was estimated at some four billion dollars, not including gas and petrol. The main products traded between the two countries include cement and iron and products used in the textile industry.
Chairman of the Abu Zaabal Fertilizer & Chemical Company Dr. Sherif El-Gabaly, who also chairs the investors union in Sadat City, agreed that any boycott of Israeli fertilizers companies was "a personal choice" and said the scope of fertilizer export to Israel was very marginal.
Those not filling any official roles, such as Mohammed El Araby, Toshiba's representative in Egypt, and former chairman of the trade union federation, said declaring a complete boycott of Israel was a must, adding that there was no need to wait for an official order. "The boycott is a matter of principle," he said.
Atef Elashmoni, deputy chairman of the trade and industry bureau in Cairo, explained the confusion of Egyptians merchants towards Israel. Elashmoni said the Arab leaders, who will be meeting for an economic summit in Kuwait this week, will have to make a decision on the matter.
"Everyone thinks 1,000 times before deciding to boycott Israel, because of the economic crisis. Maybe we will get clearer answers during the economic summit," he said.
Dr. Gil Feiler is founder and managing director of Info-Prod Research (Middle East) Ltd, and Doron Peskin is head of research
