The Reut Institute is happy to present a new Conceptual Framework (click here) on the BDS Movement’s focus on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Socially Responsible Investing (SRI). This trend demonstrates the increasing professionalism and sophistication of the BDS Movement.
Although the anti-Israel movement promotes a comprehensive boycott of Israel, it increasingly shows tactical flexibility in its willingness to focus specifically on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This shift in focus to the targeted boycott of Israeli settlements poses an acute conceptual challenge to the pro-Israel network. The BDS Movement has identified internal Jewish and Israeli divisions around this issue as an Achilles’ heel of the pro-Israel network. The polarization around this issue impedes the creation of a united and diverse Jewish and Israeli coalition against the anti-Israel movement.
To meet this challenge, the pro-Israel network should develop a strategy of “constructive ambiguity.” Due to the current Israeli political context, and the growing tension between progressive Judaism and the State of Israel, it is unlikely that the broad spectrum of the pro-Israel network could agree to consensus ‘red-lines’ on this issue.
This document also highlights the impact of the BDS Movement on multinational corporations. Corporations often respond ineffectively to the BDS Movement. This response is the result of a false perception of the character and dynamic of the BDS Movement, which weakens their response. This document includes several recommendations for corporations.
Jewish philanthropy should take a proactive role in confronting this challenge by promoting impact investing. The growing fields of impact and socially responsible investing are mostly dominated by private investors. Jewish foundations and communal organizations, which strive to generate positive social change, are natural partners for SRI organizations, and should actively seek out new initiatives in this area.
For further details:
Eran Shayshon, CEO of the Reut Group, eran@reutgroup.org, 0528732343
Vision to Reality 