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Siu Index
May 2009 No 78

STUC calls for boycott of Israeli goods, disinvestment and sanctions

A packed STUC fringe meeting heard a range of Palestinian speakers call on the Scottish Trade Union movement to support boycott, disinvestment and sanctions (BDS) on the Israeli state.

This followed the horrifying levels of violence meted out to the civilian population of Gaza in recent attacks. And two days later, the STUC backed the BDS strategy.

Delegates had been moved by a film of an STUC delegation’s visit to Palestine and Israel, which showed clearly the human rights abuses experienced on a daily basis by Palestinian men, women and children, by the actions of an occupying Israeli government.

The fringe, chaired by UNISON’s Mike Kirby who was part of the STUC’s delegation to discuss the BDS calls directly with both sides of the conflict, discussed this controversial topic.

Menawel Abdul-al, an executive member of the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions was clear about the need for the adoption of such a policy to respond to abuses of human rights faced by Palestinians on a daily basis.

In addition to the recent bloody conflict, he also pointed to the construction of the ‘apartheid’ wall in the west bank, built by Israel on the pretext of security, but which effectively entrapped pockets of Palestinians in ‘bantustans’.

Dr Samia Botmeh, from the University of London and a member of the campaign for an academic boycott, argued that to force Israel to engage with the Palestinians realistically, major pressure like that provided by a boycott was required.

“Other attempts to engage with the Israeli state have failed,” she said, “the boycott is all we as Palestinians have left.”

Mike Kirby recognised that BDS would not be an overnight decision, and wanted, as far as possible, to explain to bodies on the other side of the argument the rationale behind any decision.

That was part of the reason for the recommendation for a continuing dialogue with the Histadrut for example. ..See STUC pages Fringe meeting calls for boycott of Israeli goods, disinvestment and sanctions and Israel boycott to bring justice to Palestinians

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