The wave of support for the boycott of Israeli products is gaining momentum in Indonesia. Recent survey data from GoodStats—a data and statistics media outlet in Indonesia—reveals that 70.2% of respondents expressed support for this boycott, while only 12.8% opposed it. This overwhelming majority represents a 'tsunami of support' from the Indonesian public for Palestine.

The survey was conducted online from July 15-28, 2024, with 1,000 respondents aged 18-58 from across the country.

Read also: Analysis of Public Reaction to the Boycott of Israel-Affiliated Products, Survey

Motivations Behind the Boycott Movement

Solidarity with Palestine is the main motivation for boycotting Israeli products in Indonesia, with 68.1% of respondents citing it as their main reason. The boycott movement in Indonesia is driven not only by empathy, but also by strategic considerations. A total of 55.3% of respondents said their main reason for supporting the boycott was to put economic pressure on Israel.

Religious factors also play a significant role in the boycott movement in Indonesia, with 30% of respondents citing religious beliefs as their main motivation for supporting the action.

Interestingly, there is also a "bandwagon effect" that motivates a small portion of the Indonesian public to join the boycott of Israeli products. About 4.2% of respondents admitted that Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) influenced their participation in the boycott. The remaining 19.5% of respondents had various other reasons beyond these factors.

Impact of the Boycott on Consumer Behavior

The boycott of Israeli products in Indonesia is not limited to one type of product. From the kitchen to the wardrobe, Indonesians are engaged in a comprehensive boycott of products suspected of being linked to Israel.

The survey shows that the public is boycotting a wide range of products, from food and beverages (81.5%) to clothing (33.3%) and beauty products (31.7%). This indicates that the boycott movement has a broad reach, encompassing various aspects of daily life.

Prominent brands such as Burger King, Pizza Hut and Coca-Cola have become the main targets of the boycott against Israeli products in Indonesia. The decision to boycott these major brands shows that Indonesians are willing to take concrete action to support Palestine, even if it means changing their consumption habits.

The call to boycott products associated with Israel appears to have left a clear mark on Indonesian consumer behavior. A total of 63.3% of respondents said they had been influenced by the boycott movement in their daily purchasing decisions, with 24.1% of them feeling very strongly influenced.

In addition, 39.2% of respondents said they were moderately affected by the boycott, while 16.5% said they were less affected. Only 20.2% of respondents said the boycott had no impact on their product choices.

These results highlight the significant impact the boycott movement is having on shopping behavior in Indonesia.

The Rise of Local Brands

The good news is that the boycott of Israeli products has created opportunities for local products to shine in the Indonesian market. Several local fast-food brands, coffee shops, mineral water and packaged beverages, as well as local soap brands, are now receiving more attention.

For example, Kopi Kenangan (27.5%), Fore Coffee (22.5%) and Point Coffee (15.3%) have become consumers' top choice as alternative coffee shops. In the mineral water category, Le Minerale (47.4%) secured the top position as the preferred brand. For powdered sachet drinks, Nutrisari (40.2%) and Pop Ice (26.2%) are the favorites, while in the bath soap category, Biore ranks first, chosen by 24.5% of respondents.

Click here to find the full report.