Israel Should Boycott Palestinian Goods to Counter European Boycotts, Expert Says

Dr. Dan Diker, President of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, has proposed that Israel retaliate against European boycotts of goods from Judea and Samaria and the Golan Heights by boycotting Palestinian products. Diker argued that this measure would be an effective leverage point, as 96% of Palestinian exports go to Israel. He believes such a boycott, targeting items like furniture, wood, fruits, and vegetables, would cripple the Palestinian economy and pressure Western nations to cease their own boycotts.

Diker stated that the Palestinian Authority (PA) promotes boycotts through various NGOs in Europe and the US, spreading what he termed 'blood libels' and distorting the legal aspects of the Oslo Accords, which he noted define products from Area C as legitimate Israeli produce. He suggested that the effectiveness of this counter-boycott depends on how Israel communicates its message globally, advocating for a shift from a defensive to an offensive strategy in the information war.

He recommended utilizing patriotic Israeli Arabs and Druze to convey Israel's narrative, believing their perspective would be more impactful in exposing PA falsehoods, psychological warfare, and its alleged practice of paying salaries to terrorists and their families. Diker anticipates that Palestinian activists in Western capitals would then lobby their governments to end the boycotts of Israeli goods to protect their own economy.

While acknowledging that some countries are beyond redemption due to ingrained antisemitism, Diker believes that in others, particularly where right-wing movements are gaining strength, Israel can achieve tangible results. He also stressed the need for Israel to adopt a more assertive public relations approach, moving away from defensiveness and towards proactive exposure of its adversaries' actions. To support these efforts, Diker called for the establishment of an Israeli Ministry of Influence and Awareness, emphasizing its importance as a security issue requiring significant resources and budget allocation for diplomatic and informational battles.