Does Under Armour Support Israel? Facts, BDS Links & How to Help

Public reporting and watchdog commentary show few verified connections tying Under Armour directly to Israeli government programs or an organized BDS campaign. Some social posts single out the brand in boycott conversations, and watchdog groups note a broader trend of activists targeting businesses after major events (ADL). Other reports about enforcement against counterfeit sellers in Israel mention foreign brand names in the market, illustrating how brand names enter news coverage without implying corporate policy (Ynetnews). Our sources do not provide a corporate press release or official Under Armour statement on Israel that would change this reading.

Under Armour is not named on the BDS Movement’s official boycott list. Activists and online critics sometimes allege that global apparel brands have commercial or distribution ties to Israel; those allegations vary by post and are often unverified. ADL documented a post-October 7 shift in activist focus toward targeting Israeli and Jewish businesses in online and local campaigns (ADL) . For the official BDS target list itself, consult the movement’s public listing at bdsmovement.net/get-involved/what-to-boycott .

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🚫 What Is BDS and Why It Matters

BDS began as a coordinated call by Palestinian civil society organizations in 2005 to use boycotts, divestment, and sanctions as pressure tactics; that origin is documented in multiple overviews of the movement (My Jewish Learning) and historical summaries (Jewish Virtual Library). The movement calls for economic, cultural, and academic measures as tools activists say will advance political aims; summaries from reputable sources list these three modes as central. A coordinating body known as the BDS National Committee formed later to organize campaigns across countries, according to movement histories and third-party summaries (Jewish Virtual Library).

 

In short, documented BDS activity is organized and public in many cases, with groups posting petitions and reports since the early 2000s.

Specific brand targeting can come from disparate sources, including social posts on Facebook and Twitter and local activist groups in university towns.
Under Armour appears in social posts and local conversations at times, yet it is not listed on the official BDS Movement boycott page as of 2024.

Reviewing Reuters and AP News coverage shows no sourced evidence of an organized BDS campaign against Under Armour in the materials consulted here.

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How You Can Support Israel Today

In Israel, and in communities across Judea and Samaria, families run small businesses-planting vineyards, harvesting honey, designing jewelry, crafting soaps, and making other handmade goods.

Many of these small producers face limited access to export channels and higher logistics costs; Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reports higher per-unit shipping costs for small exporters.
Sustained market access and steady orders help vendors keep production stable and cover basic operating expenses like rent and seasonal workers during the olive and grape harvests.

Consistent buyers also let artisans plan workshops and apprenticeships for younger family members.
But these families face real economic pressure from reduced market access and amplified competition; for example, export volumes from small Israeli food producers fell after trade disruptions in 2014.

Local producers often lack marketing budgets and distribution networks like multinational brands such as Nike or Adidas, making recurring sales and reliable buyers especially important.

Outside customers who buy, subscribe, or purchase directly help sustain steady revenue streams and jobs; a study by the OECD on small exporters (2017) shows recurring orders reduce business risk.

This steady income helps families cover rent, equipment, and seasonal labor during olive harvests.
Here’s how you can make a real difference: start by choosing products that directly support Israeli families and small makers, such as food producers in the Galilee (Galilee is a region in northern Israel) or artisans in Jerusalem.

Give regularly – even a small monthly purchase helps, as seen in support patterns after the 2014 Gaza War (2014), when steady purchases kept many cooperatives afloat.

Subscribe to a Lev Haolam Box

Each monthly box may include a selection of items such as:

– Handmade soap from a West Bank cooperative

– Olive oil from a Galilee farm

– Jewelry by an Israeli designer in Tel Aviv (example: Studio Hagar)

– A small food item like za’atar or halva from Acre (Akko).

Your subscription helps families thrive by providing predictable orders that support household income and job continuity for makers in places like Samaria and the Galilee.

It echoes the practical relief seen after economic disruptions in 2006, when steady outside orders sustained small producers.
Your choice stands against anti-Semitism by visibly supporting Jewish-owned businesses and communities who face discrimination and boycotts, similar to grassroots solidarity purchases during the 2011 social protests in Israel.

Those purchases send a clear economic message without political slogans.
Your support builds the future of Israel by helping artisans reinvest in tools, training, and hiring younger makers, preserving craft skills found in Kibbutzim and neighborhood workshops in Haifa and Beersheba.

Caring community work and fair treatment of neighbors are important values in Israeli society.