“Reviving Local Economies: The Impact of Boycotting Israeli Products in the Arab World”

A Lebanese newspaper has highlighted the impact of the campaign to boycott the Zionist regime in Arab countries, emphasizing that the revival of national and resistance economies in the Arab world has begun. The article, titled “When We Use the Boycott Opportunity to Revive the National Economy,” was written by Lebanese author Sara Taleb Al-Suhail and published in Al-Binaa newspaper on Saturday.

The article notes that popular movements in solidarity with the people of Gaza have rightfully used the boycott of foreign products supporting Israel as a political and economic weapon, driven by their free will, to stop support for Israel—a regime that subjects Palestinians to ethnic cleansing and genocide. The author argues that the pressure applied by the public, through refusing to purchase goods from companies supporting Israel, has inflicted significant financial losses on these companies while revitalizing national industries in Arab and Islamic countries where this boycott is in effect.

The article further states that many Westerners, who support the Palestinians’ right to a peaceful life and the end of war and genocide, have also joined the boycott of products from companies supporting Israel. As such, the idea that foreign investment in Lebanon would cease due to the boycott of Israel is unfounded. Taleb Al-Suhail stressed that the boycott has presented an opportunity to change consumer culture in Lebanon, which has traditionally favored imported goods over domestic products, largely due to extensive advertising that made international brands attractive to Lebanese consumers.

She goes on to argue that changing consumer culture is an integral part of preserving national identity and revitalizing the Arab economy through self-reliance and confidence in our ability to compete and meet local consumer needs by producing high-quality goods. This shift will lead to the progress of the national economy and reduce dependence on imports in favor of local production.

Taleb Al-Suhail notes that the boycott has provided a golden opportunity to revive and promote local industries. She argues that the domestic market has fully embraced this transformation, with consumers now turning to local alternatives. For instance, Lebanese consumers have started frequenting local restaurants like Firefly and Burger Makers after boycotting McDonald’s, and have switched to Sama Cola and Sinalco instead of Pepsi and Coca-Cola.

In conclusion, Taleb Al-Suhail questions how long the society will remain unproductive, relying on what others create. She sees the boycott of Israel as an opportunity to think, work, develop, and produce, and cautions that local companies should not exploit this situation by raising prices for consumers.