Should I stay or should I go? A case of CSR in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Abstract

Companies investing in the occupied Palestinian territories are faced with a dilemma. Undoubtedly, the creation of jobs helps to put young Palestinians to work. Experience shows that especially young males are less likely to radicalise and commit crimes when having an occupation. However, negative press coverage due to the disputed status of the territory can force companies to withdraw. CSR activities can help to demonstrate that a company has a genuine interest in its employees and community at large. Our article looks into one particular case of an Israeli company that had to withdraw their operation due to public pressure, mainly Western media. We give recommendations how such failure could have been avoided by using the right kind of CSR activities that address the needs of the Palestinians.