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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