Citing impact of BDS in Europe, Israeli businessman shifts towards China

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/europe/21443-citing-impact-of-bds-in-europe-israeli-businessman-shifts-towards-china

The impact of the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign in Europe is forcing a shift towards China, according to a leading Israeli businessman.

Édouard Cukierman, the Paris-born founder of Catalyst Funds and chair of Cukierman & Co Investment House, made the remarks in an interview with Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

According to Cukierman, the prospects of Europeans investing in Israeli companies whose shares are traded in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange are almost zero.

“In our fund, most of the investors now are from China”, he said. “Our connections in Europe are still very strong, and we have three branches in Europe, but in practice European investments have been less than 10 percent of American investments in the Israeli market. Our change in the direction of China has paid off, and most of our deals now are with Chinese investors.”

[oberliner]

1. The European populace is extremely hostile to Israel

Across the continent (especially in Western Europe) Israel has a favorability rating about the same as North Korea.

It is really quite extraordinary.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

2. And some need to wonder why??!

Here's to BDS.

It's working and apartheid Israel better take notice.

Messy endings have a way of sneaking up on those that don't take notice.

[oberliner]

3. It's interesting that Israel remains popular in the US and sub-Saharan Africa

As well as much of Asia.

Something about Europe, though....

[geek tragedy]

4. Um, no, the US , not Europe, is the outlier.

http://www.globescan.com/news_archives/bbccntryview/backgrounder.html

[oberliner]

5. You're wrong - the graphic you posted illustrates exactly what I wrote

The US is by no means the outlier. In fact, both sub-saharan African countries have higher favorability scores than the US.

Europe and the Middle East (obviously) rank Israel negatively.

North America and Africa rank Israel positively.

I would point out that the population of all of the European countries included on the list combined (excluding Russia) does not equal the population of the United States (or India, for that matter which also views Israel more positively than negatively).

Nigeria and Kenya together also represent a higher population than the European countries listed.

And, in fact, if you included other sub-Saharan African countries, you would see even more positive numbers for Israel.

It is actually somewhat odd that this survey would include 9 different European countries and only 2 African ones.

[geek tragedy]

7. Innumeracy is a terrible thing.

1.

a. Germany+UK+France+Italy+Poland+Greece+Portugal+Hungary=340.44 million
b. United States= 318.9 Million
c. Nigeria + Kenya =217.95 Million

340.44 Million > 318.9 Million
340.44 Million > 217.95 Million

2. You wrote:

It's interesting that Israel remains popular in the US and sub-Saharan Africa

As well as much of Asia.

Something about Europe, though....

a. Israel isn't above 50% positive in either African country--managing a decent +14 (45-31) in Nigeria and a +1 in Kenya (38-37). Hardly widespread adoration.

b. You conveniently dropped your discussion of Asia, perhaps because the numbers were rather unflattering:

i. India +2 (24-22)
ii. Philippines -18 (22-40)
iii. South Korea -40 (22-62)
iv. Australia -52 (16-68)
v. Indonesia -56 (15-71)
vi. China -42 (15-57)

note that in the one country in Asia where Israel was above water, it was only +2 with 54% not having an opinion one way or the other

note also the aggregate numbers: -39 (17-56)

To recap: Israel unpopular in Asia, Europe, Canada, wildly popular in the US, moderately popular in Nigeria.

You may want to bone up on what an outlier is.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

6. South Africa was probably poular as well.

Things change, ober, and the more things change there will be thise who will want to blame anti-semitism when they reslly need to blame Israeli apartheid.

Good luck.

[Little Tich]

9. Why do you think that is? n/t

[King_David]

10. Of course Israel is the Jewish state,

No change in Europe's attitude in over 2000 years.

[Little Tich]

8. If Israel ditched the illegal settlements, there would be no BDS, and business with Europe would be

booming.

[King_David]

11. Because business is booming at the moment in other countries?

Which one?

BDS must be affecting Australia,Canada, China etc etc etc


LOL

[Little Tich]

12. Temporary trends aside, Israel is a brand, and a good one at that.

Israeli products are competetively priced and of high quality. If the stigma of the settlements was removed, then the Israeli product would be the better one most of the time, and it would sell itself.

[King_David]

13. Israel trends the same as tho Global trend

BDS can not claim victory for global slumps.

Maybe they covering their failures- the recent Bon Jovi concert for example where he enthused about performing in Israel .

[Little Tich]

17. You're right of course - BDS hasn't caused much damage as of yet.

However, a positive image of Israel would improve its ability to promote its exports.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

23. Great. A positive face on a monster.

[Little Tich]

24. Apart from the apartheid, the occupation, the war crimes in Gaza, the second class legal status for

Israeli citizens, the rampant racism in the government and Netanyahu - Israel isn't really that bad...

[oberliner]

14. That is definitely not true

In fact, the BDS movement explicitly states otherwise.

[Little Tich]

15. The BDS Movement has difficulties trying to convince everyone that they are the Ayatollahs of BDS.

Interestingly, those companies and goverments that actually do the BDSing only target the illegal settlements and the occupation. That's simply because while many people support a boycott of the settlements and the occupation, there are far fewer who would support boycotting Israel.

There is a big difference between the Illegal settlements and Israel, and most people know that.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

18. I find it difficult for anybody to condemn the illegal colonies

Last edited Tue Oct 6, 2015, 10:23 AM - Edit history (2)

while they give the colonizer a Mulligan.

It would be like a jury condemning only the private parts of a known rapist while praising the person for the wonderful cherry tomatoes they're known for.

It's hypocrisy to boycott only products from the illegally colonized territories while making excuses for the colonizer.

Illegal colonies and colonizer are synnonomous.

Arguments against that are dubious.

There's an old Roman saying: "He who profits froma crime commits the crime."

And if you want to take this into the modern age... if you knowingly let your brother imprison another neighbor, while he profits from ransacking the house and selling to others that which does not belong to him, while you arm him, while you provide logistical support, while you tirelessly play the victim...you are also to blame and deserve the same punishment.

Argue that away if you can.

[Little Tich]

19. Most Israelis are not direct enablers of the occupation or the settlements.

They would probably be very cross with me if I wouldn't buy their stuff because of something they didn't do. I don't think assigning collective guilt is a good idea, it would open up for collective punishment like the one Israel is inflicting on the Palestinians right now.

Besides, if I boycotted Israel, people could ask me why I boycott only Israel and not the rest of all those human rights offenders, and I wouldn't have a good answer to give them.

I understand your argument and partially agree - the colonizer is responsible for the illegal colonies, and Israelis have elected leaders who expand them ever since they first were built. But I think that punishing those who aren't directly responsible is harder to justify, so no, I'm not going the whole way.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

20. I'm sorry, but you are completely wrong.

I'm not sure how one can turn a blind eye to what Israel is doing, and in doing so, by buying Israeli products, they have become an enabler of apartheid.

Most Israelis are not direct enablers of the occupation or the settlements.

If they are citizens of Israel they are, and since most Israelis voted for the right wing they are indeed direct enablers of apartheid.

They would probably be very cross with me if I wouldn't buy their stuff because of something they didn't do. I don't think assigning collective guilt is a good idea, it would open up for collective punishment like the one Israel is inflicting on the Palestinians right now.

Collective guilt? Have you ever thought about collective suffering?
Also, who cares about their feelings when they are in contradiction of international law?

Besides, if I boycotted Israel, people could ask me why I boycott only Israel and not the rest of all those human rights offenders, and I wouldn't have a good answer to give them.

Do you really buy that many products from North Korea, Syria or Sudan?

But I think that punishing those who aren't directly responsible is harder to justify, so no, I'm not going the whole way.

Have you taken the time to realize that there are people truly suffering on the other side of the equation and that sooner or later you will have to choose between what is right and what makes you a little uncomfortable?

[Little Tich]

21. I buy some Iranian products from time to time: Ghormeh Sabzi herbs, tea, dried lime, fruit leather

etc, and I have no problem with that, just like I have no problem buying Israeli products.

I have a higher threshold for actively protesting against injustice than you, but it doesn't mean that I'm blind. There is Apartheid in the West Bank, and non-Jewish citizens are legally discriminated against in Israel. Neverheless, I think the average Israeli Joe Schmuck has a right to be treated like everyone else until complicity is proven and personal. Just because the rights of Palestinians are trampled, doesn't mean that Mr Schmuck should have his rights trampled too. Two wrongs don't make a right.

The boycott is also a very strong moral tool, and I don't think the situation calls for a the whole people of a country to be considered guilty of wrongdoing and deserving punishment, at least not yet.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

22. You don't understand either apartheid or

those indolent masses that keep in going with their inaction.

The Israeli Joe Schmuck, as you refer to them, are as guilty as the illegal colonists for turning a blind eye to apartheid very much in the same way as Americans turned a blind eye to slavery for so long.

I hope you think about it.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

16. Your protestations are cute.

Innacurate, but cute.