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Europe's economic boycott of Israel expanding
Daniel Bettini
Published: 27.08.10, 12:51
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73 Talkbacks for this article
31. @Ephraim
Frank O ,   Tromsø, Norway   (08.27.10)
Exactly where in Israel is Brooklyn?
32. No difference between boycott today and boycott of Jewish...
JMK ,   NYC   (08.27.10)
owned businesses in Germany under Hitler.
33. It never ceases to amaze me
Danny   (08.27.10)
that these stories still appear. They always turn out to be either not what they seem - a la Harvard "divesting" - or some mickey mouse company no one cares about - a la bankrupt pakistani call card company "boycotting" Israel during Cast Lead. Or it is some regurgitated press release about 100 odd lecturers out of 6,000 in the UK managed to pass a motion that recommends passing around a document that discusses the possibility of a boycott at some later stage. And of course Israel over reacts to this nonsense which of course is why anti-Israelis put out the releases.
34. Israel Should Move Back to 1967 Borders
World Citizen ,   the world   (08.27.10)
or declare one secular non-Jewish state with equal rights for all. It is as simple as that. The BDS movement will grow and grow until you do.
35. economical growth
Anna ,   Sweden   (08.27.10)
Despite what this article says, the growth of the Israeli economy is over 4% which is a lot more than what many other western countries can show today. Don't worry about some people not investing, there are always others that will. Am Israel Hai
36. the issue is economic not political
Golan ,   modiin   (08.27.10)
I do not buy for a second that the "reason" is political, unless the person who made the decision is also opposed to Israeli "occupation" in Tel Aviv. Nor do I see this sort of Hamas supporting trend to end if Israel put its tail between its legs and abandoned 5 KM beyond the so called green line. Its like when an Arab called to an end of occupation a leftist thinks the Fatahnik is talking about post 1967 Israel when in fact the Baathist is talking about Israel's very existence.
37. # 20, 22, 23
Max Maier ,   Germany   (08.27.10)
I'm sorry to confront you with some cold hard facts. The EU has a population in excess of 500 million and a per capita GDP that's higher than Israel. Therefore there is no question about who is in a far stronger economic position. Anyway, the boycott only concerns those companies that are operating in the occupied territories. Products made by companies in Israel's illegal settlements do not enjoy the customs privileges of other Israeli products when imported in the EU anyway. This boycott hits the companies where it hurts, in their wallet.
38. How can Israel solve it
Ivan ,   Haifa   (08.27.10)
First of all remove the fence and give back their land to palestinian farmers. Give them their water, located in THEIR territory. Second end the siege on Gaza...then both sides may start to talk and the international community will tolerate israel easier.
39. No. 2 Another Jew/srael hater
Madeleine ,   Israel   (08.27.10)
WRONG a million times over! What did we get when we gave up Gaza - rockets, Hamas, terror, suicide bombers. A sick regime enforcing its sick totalitarianism on its own population. The West Bank - seems that in some towns - Jenin, Ramallah - the Arabs are finally learning that stability and a renunciation (dare one hope?) of terror can provide jobs and a cultural revival in those same cities. As for boycotting West bank industry - all you Europeans are doing is harming Palestinian jobs even more than Jewis jobs, since thousands of Palestinians work in a variety of Jewish-owned and -run industries, from construction, to manufacturing to commercial (witness Rami Levi stores). As usual, there are those who are only too happy to rub their hands in glee at the thought of anything bad happening to Israel.
40. European firms providing opportunity to BUY
Jacob Blues ,   New York City, USA   (08.27.10)
Withdrawel from a growing economy should push valuations down on public companies to enviable levels for investors looking for real gains. Boycotters should realize that there is a global market for investment returns, and capital will search out the best returns, hence the strong push for outside investors to pour money into China's growing economy and investment markets, despite its actions toward Tibet, its Uighar citizens, and the general political repression of its 1 Billion citizens. So too, will global capital look at enticing Israeli valuations coupled with a growing high-tech economy in a world mired by economic stagnation.
41. They simply needed the PROFITS
Tuvea ,   Chicago, Il, USA   (08.27.10)
Those taking their profits from investments can cite any reason they want. The truth is that they needed to show some investment profits or their own stakeholders would take flight. Christian Zionists here in the US number more than 50 Million. They will never abandon Israel and will continue to buy BILLIONS of DOLLARS of goods annually. My family and I make it a point to buy Israeli manufactured products - from EITHER side of the so-called green line - when ever we can. Shoes, textiles, plastic products, financial products and food stuffs are among those things from Israel we buy whenever we get the chance.
42. Arab Zionists
Arn ,   Yehud   (08.27.10)
If you look at Israel's history the pattern that keeps repeating itself is that all efforts to weaken Israel seem always to make it stronger. Israel today has one of the healthiest economies of the world - healthier by far than Norway's, England's and most other European countries. Everything (and more) that the Arab countries would happily settle for today was theirs for the taking when Israel accepted the UN's original partition plan and they rejected it outright. Considering all that their militant belligerency has contributed to the strengthening of Israel over the years I'm almost tempted to think of them as among Israel's earliest and most committed Zionists.
43. Dear Frank
Rune F ,   Oslo Norway   (08.27.10)
Israel can build in Jerusalem ,and Westbank,because it is Israeli land.Israel got the west bank back in a self defence war,and it is not against International law.The name west bank ia a name Jordan made when the took The westbank illigaly.Before that the name was Samaria ,and judea and it is the land of Israel.also part of balfour declaration.Israel is the Land God promised the jews many times in the bible.And the y got it:)
44. #43 World Citizen - Re '76 Borders
Dallas ,   Canada   (08.27.10)
Do you realized that the PLO was organized long before the '67 war? Think about that? The PA's policies are still the same. Please don't tell me that you expect Israel to commit suicide unless you lead by example.
45. #2
avi ,   nyc   (08.27.10)
Peace will only come when arabs and other moslems stop illegally occupying other peoples land, making the natives dhimmis and replacing original holy sites with mosques. They have done this to Israel , India, Constantinople and Cordoba.
46. Yet Israel's economy continues to out pace Europe
Mark ,   New York USA   (08.27.10)
The truth of the matter is these boycotts may hurt individual business owners (especially in the W Bank) but have no affect on the Israeli economy as a whole. Even the Palestinian boycott is a shame, they still line up at the entrance to Ariel daily willing to work. Even if some businesses in the territories do go under, they'll be restructured or replaced with others who's clients are in Asia, Africa, South America etc etc...Israel is developing new trade partners every day, establishing partnerships, factories, training facilities all over the world. Exporting from Israel by way of China, Thailand, Czech Republic, Germany etc etc. Israelis are innovative to say the least, while Arabs dig holes in the ground Israelis invest, operate and do business throughout the world in creative ways, and while one market may dim and four will open up in it's place. In the end the boycotts will fail, like the Arab versions before them.
47. Soda Club
BOOZ ,   FRANCE   (08.27.10)
While Soda Club has indeed been denied particpation into a trade fair last June upon te decision or the Paris 18th District mayor , the large electric appliances dealer netywork selling Soda Club products successfully ignored the boycott campaign. BDS'ers prevail themselves on a nationwide campaign in supermarkets, whih I never met at my local store ( and would one of these morons lay hand into my shopping cart , he/she would get inserious trouble ! )
48. Good oportunity for Israel !
Asian man ,   Israel   (08.27.10)
To move its business to others continent where the future is: Asia, china india and many others countries which are waiting for our goods countries. Europe is definitely not a land of liberty and egality if you are not arab supporter !
49. Who needs europe... all they gave the Jews was trouble......
Faruq   (08.27.10)
but then again, europeans leaders throughout the ages have mistreated everybody within their grasp.
50. ISRAEL
ZT ,   ME   (08.27.10)
U folks right there where ever u been.please remember that the isrealie land/nation.it`s a miracle al the way up to the top.like it or not but u can`t change it.becouse of the nature things to come.better to be in the Winnin` side of life
51. But no boycotts vs Chinese, Libyan, Syrian, Saudi firms
Zvi   (08.27.10)
Hypocrisy and anti-Semitism are rife.
52. well you'r an idiot #2
Daniel ,   Berkeley, CA   (08.27.10)
do a little research and use the brain you were born with. Israel offered to give back the land several times and the Palestinians refused. They want everything-not just the west bank and Gaza.
53. RE 24
wales ,   bangor   (08.28.10)
NO MATTER WHAT ISAREL DO,THEY WANT ALL OF ISRAEL! GIVING THEM A PART WILL MEAN WEAKNESS TO THEM THEN THEY WILL TAKE THE REST BY FORCE..THAT IS A FACT!
54. re:2..what planet r you on?
chris ,   Porthmadg   (08.28.10)
you said "2. This is Good Progress! Only when the price of occupation becomes too high, will Israel finally withdraw behind the Green Line. Only when the occupation ends, will there be peace in the region." RUBISH,WHAT PLANET YOUR LIVING ON..ISRAEL IS NOT ON ACCUPIED LAND,RAED YOUR BIBLE! the Arabs just wnat Israel Destroyed,read Zechariah 12
55. European Jew hatred! What a shocking new development.
Chaim ,   Israel   (08.27.10)
Israel's economy is one of the most dynamic in the world. We have proven that we are capable of overcoming all odds. Nobody in history has built an advanced modern economy, world class army and airforce, record of medical, high tech and business achievement in ONLY 62 years. Unheard of. Difficulties only make us stronger. European Jew hatred! What a shocking new development.
56. #52 You need to do some real research
Leon ,   Ottawa, Canada   (08.28.10)
Israel offered the Palestinians several unconnected enclaves or Bantusians. They never offered them a real state. Israel would have controlled the borders, airspace and water. You can say it was offered 90 or 95% of Palestine and this purposefully vague. Prisoners in a jail control or occupy 95% of their prison. Israel essentially offered the PA a prison.
57. @9
(08.28.10)
china, india, asia, etc.... they are all lining up. europe is going abkrupt. no business in europe. it is now asia and china, japan, india and israel has great relations with all of them and they are lining up to buy the latest israeli high tech,
58. #35
Intedi Nensak ,   Stockholm, Sweden   (08.28.10)
Get real. Israel is per capita considerably poorer than just about all of western europe. They really only beat Portugal, and not by much. Ethiopia's growth is much higher than Israel's, it still doesn't mean they're less of an impoverished dump of a country. In an already poor country it doesn't take much to reach high growth rates, sell an extra cow and your economy increases 10%.
59. Had to smile at that one, #16
Cameron ,   USA   (08.28.10)
60. The European Union acutally is the biggest economy worldwide
Neo ,   EU   (08.28.10)
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