Study Shows Increase in Boycott of Israeli Food Products After Gaza War

A study on West Bank residents’ response to campaigns supporting national food products showed that the percentage of residents boycotting Israeli products was less than 15% during last year’s Israeli war on Gaza, but rose to 70% after the war was over.

The study, conducted by six students from the Birzeit University MA program in Applied Statistics and supervised by Professor Saleh Kafri, indicated that the majority of consumers are convinced that they should boycott Israeli food products.

The graduate program organized on February 2, 2015 a conference to announce the study’s findings. It was conducted in partnership with the Palestinian Food Industries Association, and funded by the National Beverage Company - Coca-Cola and the Palestine Industrial Investment Company.

Kafri said that the study sought to explore the factors that influence the Palestinian consumer response in boycotting. Israeli goods and measure confidence in Palestinian products. These results can be used to develop policies and solve problems in the vital Palestinian food sector, he said.

Palestinian Food Industries Association Manager Nasr Atyani explained that most countries have been able to attain sovereignty by relying on the principle of food security. The food industry sector in Palestine produces around 2,000 different food products, covering 80% of the food basket, and thus providing thousands of jobs. With ongoing support for national products, job opportunities will increase, Atyani added.