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| Arif Luqman Hakim, S.EI., M.E., a lecturer in Islamic Economics at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) (Photo: Special) |
In the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one issue that has been rising is the boycott of products that support Israel. It has become a trending topic in global conversations, leading to various questions about its effectiveness and impact. Some people support the movement as an expression of solidarity with Palestine, while others view it as a controversial action with potentially significant social and economic effects.
It caught the attention of Arif Luqman Hakim, S.E.I., M.E., a lecturer in Islamic Economics at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM). Boycotting Israeli products is an action that includes the refusal of products originating from Israel or supporting Israel, both directly and indirectly.
The boycott is a protest against the Israeli government's genocidal actions against the Palestinians. The controversy comes due to the debate over its effectiveness and impact. Some believe that it is a necessary form of support to force change and suppress human rights violations by Israel. However, other views consider it ineffective and detrimental to the economy.
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"Some believe that boycotts can drive political and behavioural change, while others think that the impact is quite small," explains the lecturer widely known as Luqman.
Luqman assessed that the action would affect the employees who work in the related companies. Even though it is not in the short term, the long-term impact will be significant—for example, job losses or a decrease in revenue due to decreased consumer interest and spending capacity.
Furthermore, since Indonesia is not a significant trading partner of Israel, the boycott could affect international trade and the national economy. The negative impact will be reduced imports of Israeli products, which could affect business and the availability of specific products in the Indonesian market.
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However, according to Luqman, the impact is insignificant, considering that these pro-Israel companies are only engaged in fulfilling secondary needs. "This is the right moment for the government to support local products to become more prominent in the national market. It is an opportunity to show that the quality of local products is not less attractive and can fulfil daily needs," he said.
Finally, Luqman also said that other than the boycott of Israeli products, other alternatives can be considered in supporting Palestine. These include support in terms of education, advocacy for peaceful dialogue, and humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. "These alternatives are ways to help Palestine without harming their economy or the people who may be affected by the boycott," he concluded. (Put/Rev/Wil)
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