From Boycott to Economic Cooperation: The Political Economy of the Arab Boycott of Israel

This is the first comprehensive and updated study of the Arab economic boycott of Israel to be published since it started to disintegrate in the aftermath of the Madrid Conference of 1991. Gil Feiler explains the evolution and development of the boycott, which was first formally imposed by the Arab League in 1946, even before the State of Israel formally came into existence, and examines all aspects - including the theory, practice and legality - of the longest-lasting example of economic sanctions in the twentieth century, as seen from the American, Arab, European and Israeli perspectives. He also looks into the prospects of the slowly developing reality of economic relations and cooperation between Israel and its neighbours which has accompanied the Middle East peacemaking process. As well as its broad horizons, one particular value of this study is that it is based in part on Arab archival material and recent documents, as well as on interviews with a wide range of personalities who were involved with the various aspects of the boycott over the years. As an academic who specializes in Middle East economics, as well as the director of a firm that deals both with Middle East market research and actual economic contacts in the region, Dr Feiler is well equipped to present and analyze the phenomenon of the boycott and its significance. All students of the Middle East conflict, economic sanctions and contemporary history will find this book invaluable.