On the psychology of Arab crowds and the ethics of boycott | MadaMasr
▻https://www.madamasr.com/en/2018/05/31/opinion/u/on-the-psychology-of-arab-crowds-and-the-ethics-of-boycott
Now that this is established, let us move to the essential question of whether boycotting Israel is actually an effective tool to end, or at least restrain, Israeli aggression. It should be understood that it is in the nature of humans that they rarely tend to make compromises unless it is in their own interests, and that it is in the nature of states that they almost never make compromises without being forced. In 2005, following the Second Intifada, polls indicated that almost 60 percent of Israeli Jews were willing to support withdrawal from the West Bank as part of a peace agreement, while in 2017, only 36 percent were willing to do so. This is highly indicative of the fact that, with the end of large scale armed resistance, the Israeli public has lost its incentive to offer any land compromises and that the aggressive, uncompromising policies adopted by the current Israeli Cabinet are a representation of widespread public opinion in Israel. It is accordingly logical to assume that, without anything compelling Israelis to reconsider the situation, they will continue electing and supporting the right-wing governments that have improved their security, even at the cost of inhumanly treating Palestinians.
To consider the above within the context of examining the argument for popular boycott in the Arab world, it is important to note that recent polls in Israel indicate that normalization with the Arab world is the single incentive Israelis view as being most conducive to peace. As for the claims that it is almost hypocritical for Arab individuals to boycott Israel while their states are increasing normalization, it should be noted that Netanyahu recently stated that the greatest obstacle to “peace” with Palestinians today is not the leaders of Arab states, but “public opinion on the Arab street.” This proves that, even if Arab states are collaborating, popular boycott and public opinion in the Arab world matter, and, while they will not perhaps deter Israel from its crimes, they are at least acting as a restraining force against Israel’s final “peace,” which, according to various indicators, consists of leaving Palestinians with nothing.
Finally, while it is unrealistic to think that Arab popular boycott alone might end Israeli occupation, it is reasonable to hope that an international boycott could. In recent years, global public opinion has swayed in favor of Palestinians, leading to nearly three quarters of Israeli Jews feeling that the “whole world is against them.” The increasing successes of the international boycott movements, if coupled with a solid Arab popular boycott in the future, should definitely create more incentives for Israelis to pursue peace, and could compel them to elect a less extremist cabinet. It is therefore my belief that Arab individuals who choose to normalize with Israel are not only removing the last “most conducive” incentive for Israelis to seriously pursue peace, but should consider themselves as directly liable for the continued suffering of Palestinians.
—
