Those who boycott products from Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria want to put pressure on Israel. But the first to potentially lose their jobs are Palestinian workers. This is not protection — it is a political own goal. A boycott is meant to hit. But who exactly is hit when Western states restrict trade in products from Israeli businesses in Judea and Samaria? According to industry estimates, around 4,000 Palestinian workers could lose their jobs. They are among approximately 18,000 Palestinians currently employed legally in Israeli businesses and industrial zones in the region.
These are not abstract numbers. Behind every job is a family that depends on a regular income. When orders dry up, contracts are cancelled and companies lose their markets, it is precisely these workers who come under pressure. Some businesses could close, others could relocate their production to Israel proper. In both cases, local jobs are at risk.
The measures vary from country to country. In Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands, import bans have already come into effect. In...
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