Understanding the BDS Boycott List: A Guide to the Movement's Corporate Targets | Bds List of Boycott

 

Table of Contents:

• What Is the BDS Movement?
• How BDS Finds Boycott Targets
• Major Boycott Efforts and Results
• Consumer and Corporate Boycott Targets
• Accessing Boycott Information
• Conclusion
• FAQ

Understanding the BDS Boycott List: A Guide to the Movement's Corporate Targets

 

Did you know that organized economic action against companies has historical roots in movements for social change across the globe? The Boycott, Divestment, as well as Sanctions (BDS) movement stands as a considerable effort in economic activism. It aims to push corporations and governments through peaceful methods. For customers interested in knowing which companies this Palestinian-led movement focuses on, the boycott list offers a clear guide to help choose what to buy.

What Is the BDS Movement?

BDS is a nonviolent movement led by Palestinians. It sets up campaigns that promote boycotts, investment removal, in addition to economic sanctions against Israel.
The movement works because its supporters believe that economic pressure makes others obey international rules and persuades private companies to end their part in what the movement calls Israel's control of Palestinian lands. The plan of the movement relies on three linked ways to act:

• Customer boycotts that discourage buying Israeli products.
• Investment removal efforts that pressure financial groups to take away their money.
• Sanctions work that lobbies governments to end military trade and formal relations.

How BDS Finds Boycott Targets

The BDS movement uses a set process to figure out which companies deserve boycott campaigns. The movement puts Israeli companies that work around the world first. This focus is especially on those in:

• Military-security
• Technology
• Energy
• Finance
• Diamonds
• Agriculture fields

In addition, international companies that keep business operations in Israeli settlements or provide support services for Israeli military and security groups become focus points for pressure campaigns. The movement sets two main rules for freedom from boycott calls:

• Companies must stop involvement in Israel's military takeover and settler control.
• Companies must openly say they agree with Palestinian rights under international law. This includes the right of refugees to return home, as UN Resolution 194 states.

According to the movement, no Israeli company meets these rules right now. This leads to calls to boycott all Israeli companies unless they meet these requirements.

Major Boycott Efforts and Results

A few widely known campaigns show how the movement works and the effect it claims to achieve. The campaign against the French worldwide company Veolia began in November 2008. It focused on the company's involvement in the Jerusalem Light Rail project that runs through Israeli-held East Jerusalem. Reports say the boycott cost Veolia about $20 billion by 2015. More recent campaigns focus on technology companies.

• Hewlett-Packard (HP) faces continuous boycott pressure since 2016. This stems from claims that the company supplies body-measuring ID systems used to limit Palestinian movement and provides servers for the Israel Prison Service.
• In another big event, Intel announced a $25 billion investment in Israel in December 2023. However, the company stopped the project in June 2024 after ongoing BDS pressure and worries about financial risk.

Consumer and Corporate Boycott Targets

The BDS movement keeps up lists of prioritized customer boycott targets and pressure targets. Companies with branches or franchise deals in Israel that have openly supported Israel or gave money to the Israeli military include:

• McDonald's
• Coca-Cola
• Burger King
• Papa John's
• Pizza Hut
• WIX

Also, Booking.com faces boycott calls for offering vacation houses and hotels in Israeli settlements on the occupied West Bank. Beyond products customers buy, the movement focuses on financial groups, arms companies, next to technology firms for investment removal campaigns. These efforts aim to pressure governments, city councils, investment funds, universities, along with worker groups to leave out guilty companies from buying deals and investment money.

Accessing Boycott Information

For customers who look to find boycott targets, the BDS movement put together the "Boycat" app. People describe it as the first application that keeps track of all boycott targets the official BDS movement supports. This tool offers current details on which brands and companies the movement actively campaigns against, and the specific reasons for each boycott call.

Conclusion

The BDS boycott list represents a full effort to name companies the movement believes share guilt in Israeli control and settlement acts. Whether customers choose to follow these boycott calls stays a personal choice. However, the list itself acts as a clear record of which corporations the movement focuses on and why. Knowing the movement's rules and documented campaigns gives background for choices customers base on facts regarding economic activism and company responsibility.

FAQ

What does 'Divestment' mean in the BDS movement?

Divestment means the act of removing money or investment funds from companies or financial groups that the BDS movement considers supportive of Israeli occupation or settlement activities. The goal is to apply financial pressure.

Is the BDS movement only against Israeli companies?

No. While the movement prioritizes Israeli companies, it also targets international corporations. These international companies face scrutiny if they operate in Israeli settlements or provide services that help Israeli military and security groups.

How does the BDS movement track its boycott targets?

The movement uses a set process to find targets based on their involvement in settlement building or military support. Customers access this information through the BDS website and the "Boycat" app.

Resources & References:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boycott,_Divestment_and_Sanctions
2. https://canarymission.org/organization/Boycott_Divestment_Sanctions
3. https://bdsmovement.net/Guide-to-BDS-Boycott
4. https://bdsmovement.net/sites/default/files/2024-12/Guide%20to%20BDS%20Boycott%20&%20Pressure%20Corporate%20Priority%20Targeting-30%20Nov%202024-Submitted%20by%20BDS%20movement.pdf
5. https://bdsmovement.net/node/3
6. https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethicalcampaigns/boycotts
7. https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethical-campaigns-boycotts/palestine-boycott-list