ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the history of boycotts against Israel, centering on the Arab boycott against the state that started in 1946. The main argument advanced here is that despite attempts, the Arab boycott was not securitized because it did not challenge the state’s ontological security. Through archival research, the chapter uncovers Israel’s policy debates regarding the appropriate response to the boycott. Unlike Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), the Arab boycott was led by those whose hostility to Israel was a given and whose recognition was not required for Israel’s continued legitimacy. As a result, Israel largely avoided the extraordinary measures that it adopted against BDS in its response to the Arab boycott and avoided the securitization dilemma that is prevalent in current policy making.
