Calls For Boycott Of Israeli Products To Be Carried Out, But What Is The Effect?

Illustration of boycott of Israeli products (Doc. Antara)

YOGYAKARTA Calls for a boycott of Israeli products appeared on social media. This call was made as a form of disappointment over the Israeli state that carried out humanitarian violence against Palestinians in Gaza. Then, what does it have to do with it?

Regarding the boycott movement of Israeli products, there is a lot of opinion on the impact the country may receive. Some opinions are as follows.

1. Jusuf Kalla

The boycott movement on Israeli products was responded to by the former Vice President of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla (JK). He explained that concrete steps need to be taken is international cooperation, not independent movements.

"Yes, of course, it must be joint efforts internationally because if it is alone, it seems that Israel is still strong enough to carry out so many attacks," explained JK in the Monas area, Central Jakarta, Sunday, November 5.

According to him, there must be the same goal in stopping the advance from Islamic Union countries, Arab countries, and the United States. If all unite, the attacks launched by Israel on Palestine can be stopped.

"This must influence Arab countries, the influence of Islamic and American countries must work together with it all. We can only control it," he said again.

JK argues that regarding the conflict in Palestine, Israel only accepts input from allied countries including the United States. Therefore, the protests echoed by the public, including in Indonesia, in the form of boycotts of Israeli products, have no impact on solving Palestinian problems.

"No, Israel never wants to hear people's voices, except to hear American voices. Yes, America must be together," explained Kalla.

"It doesn't work (a boycott), what do we have to boycott Israel, no one's goods come in, can enter from other countries," he added.

JK also asked President Jokowi to play an active role in mobilizing massive diplomacy.

"(The president) must launch this massive humanitarian diplomacy. First, to unity from all over the world in the name of humanity, right, if politics can't do this. It must be humanity together," he said.

2. Brookings Institution

Brookings Institution is a non-profit organization that is packaged in Washington, United States (US). According to them, the boycott movement of Israeli products under the name BDS will not affect Israel's economy drastically. This is because about 40 percent of Israel's exports are "intermediate" goods, aka hidden products used in the process of producing goods elsewhere, for example semiconductors.

Not only that, approximately 50 percent of Israel's exports are "differentiable" goods, aka items that cannot be replaced, such as special computer chips.

3. Ministry of Industry

Although it has no major impact on Israel, the boycott movement of products affiliated with Israel is considered capable of increasing the domestic industry. This is as stated by the Director General of Agro Industry of the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) Putu Juli Ardika on a different occasion before.

According to him, the boycott movement of Israeli products is a good moment and helps the Government's efforts which are currently tightening imported goods into the country.

"In social media there is an invitation to boycott some products, so hopefully it will be a good momentum for us to strengthen the tightening of the flow of goods because we are still importing several products," said Putu Juli, quoted from ANTARA, Monday, November 11.

He hopes that domestic products can be fully utilized by the domestic market. The boycott was also considered a form of citizen support for Palestinian conditions that were subjected to humanitarian violence from Israel.

That's information regarding the boycott of Israeli products. Visit VOI.ID to get other interesting information.