https://arab.news/z76gy
- TUC motion calls for opposition to government 鈥榓nti-boycott鈥� bill
LONDON: Trade unions in the UK have passed a motion in support of boycotting Israel, condemning its oppression of the Palestinian people.
The motion, which was proposed by the National Education Union at the Trades Union Congress in Liverpool, called for political opposition to the upcoming Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, which, if passed in Parliament, would make it harder to boycott Israel.
It also called for support for a coalition of more than 70 groups called Right to Boycott, which includes Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Liberty, the Quakers, the Methodist Church, the Muslim Association of Britain, and Na鈥檃mod: British Jews Against Occupation.
The motion stated that the bill 鈥渨ould undermine ethical investment and procurement by public bodies by restricting the consideration of human and workers鈥� rights, international law and environmental concerns, linked to the behavior of a foreign state.鈥�
It added: 鈥淚t damages freedom of speech, local democracy, devolution, and pension scheme members鈥� rights.鈥�
Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said in a statement: 鈥淲e welcome the passing of this important motion which confirms the enduring support of the British trade union movement for the Palestinian struggle for liberation, and its opposition to the government鈥檚 attempts to repress the BDS movement.
鈥淭he motion importantly rejects any attempt to delegitimize the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel and companies supporting its oppression and support for that call here in the UK.
鈥淲e urge the Labour Party leadership to pay heed to this overwhelming vote by a body representing millions of British workers, including thousands of Labour Party members.鈥�
The Labour Party said it would oppose the government鈥檚 bill but has called suggestions the BDS campaign is solely motivated by opposition to Israeli oppression of Palestinians 鈥減roblematic.鈥�