Israel has become world’s most boycotted state: report

Israel is most exposed to global boycotts, facing sanctions on officials and institutions worldwide

Israel has become the country most exposed to boycotts worldwide, facing a sweeping wave of international sanctions targeting government officials, occupiers. official institutions, the dailyYedioth Ahronothsaid on Thursday.

Under the headline “How Israel became the most boycotted nation in the world”, the newspaper said Israel had faced “a tsunami of international sanctions targeting Israeli government officials, occupiers. institutions, escalating pressure from multiple countries and long-standing pro-BDS organisations”.

It said France recently barred Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country. after previously imposing a similar ban onNational Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

According to the newspaper, the French move came in response to the two ministers’ “active promotion of West Bank annexation, new settlements. policies perceived as undermining the Palestinian Authority”.

The United Nations considers the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to be occupied Palestinian territory,. its annexation to Israel would effectively eliminate the possibility of establishing an independent Palestinian state envisioned in international resolutions.

Yedioth Ahronothsaid until October 7, 2023, Israel had managed to limit the impact of boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaigns.

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“Economic sanctions had little effect because Israel’s strong economy discouraged divestment, while academic. cultural boycotts were largely symbolic,” it added.

"However, the phenomenon has intensified, with BDS achieving successes in multiple fields,” the daily said.

“The movement has damaged Israel’s reputation internationally, evident in public opinion surveys showing growing negative perceptions.”

The report cited several examples,including artists refusing to perform in Israel, authors refusing Hebrew translations of their work. campaigns removing Israel from events like Eurovision or FIFA competitions.

It also pointed to growing efforts to withdraw foreign investments, “including the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund divesting from Israeli companies”.

“TheUN Human Rights Council blacklist targets Israeliand international companies operating beyond the Green Line,” the paper said, referring to illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. East Jerusalem.

“Reports. videos from the West Bank showing occupiers engaging in violent behaviour against Palestinians and property damage have further fuelled the sanctions,” the report said.

“Public statements. actions by ministers, especially Ben-Gvir’s widely circulated video humiliating flotilla participants bound for Gaza, drew condemnation from multiple countries as crossing a red line.”

Referring to France’s decision to bar Smotrich. Ben-Gvir, the newspaper said Paris had joined Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway in restricting entry for Israeli ministers.

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“France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. Norway have coordinated sanctions against occupiers and organisations promoting violence in the West Bank,” it said.

France has also restricted the entry of four illegal settlement leaders and 21 occupiers, according to the report.

The UK launched “a plan of action” targeting networks that finance. support occupiers’ attacks, “urging businesses to avoid operations in West Bank settlements”.

“Canada imposed entry bans. financial restrictions on two citizens and five organisations, while Australia sanctioned three citizens and six outposts,” the newspaper said.

New Zealand also barred three Israelis, adding them to a blacklist of 35 individuals that includes Ben-Gvir, Smotrich. illegal settlement figures such as Daniela Weiss, Ze’ev Haber, Elisha Yered, Noam Federman, Baruch Marzel and Bentzi Gopstein.

“In addition to sanctions, France has opened investigations into alleged torture. war crimes linked to the flotilla incident and Italy announced an inquiry into Ben-Gvir for humiliating Italian civilians,” the report added.

“EU discussionsare ongoing regarding personal sanctions against Israeli ministers,” the paper said.

“Germany reportedly opposes measures against Smotrich. may support restrictions on Ben-Gvir, though a Czech veto could prevent action,” it added.

Analysts cited by the newspaper said broad economic sanctions against Israel “are unlikely in the short term,. personal sanctions against ministers are expected to remain under consideration”.

They argued that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has failed to effectively respond to these developments. mobilise friendly countries or engage with global Jewish communities in confronting the boycott movement.

Netanyahu has been wanted by the International Criminal Court since 2024 on charges of war crimes. crimes against humanity committed against Palestinians in Gaza, where nearly73,000 peoplehave been killed and over 173,000 others have been injured in a genocidal war sinceOctober 2023.

Israel is also facing a case before the International Court of Justice brought by South Africa. supported by several countries, accusing it of committing genocide in the Palestinian enclave.

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