UK government to introduce bill banning boycotts of Israeli goods

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
18 Jun 2023 13:03
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The UK plans to prohibit councils from boycotting Israeli goods, arguing that officials are "wasting taxpayers’ time and money pursuing their foreign policy agenda."

In this Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012 file photo, French demonstrators and supporters of Palestinians hold a placard with the word "Boycott" during a demonstration in Paris, France. (AP)

A UK government bill prohibiting councils from boycotting Israeli goods is anticipated to be introduced next week.

The proposed legislation will prohibit public agencies from taking a position on international affairs, including through sanctions and divestment campaigns.

According to the Telegraph, Michael Gove, the Cabinet minister in charge of local government, will introduce the legislation. According to Gove, boycotting Israeli goods leads to "appalling antisemitic rhetoric and abuse."

He said that "it is simply wrong that public bodies have been wasting taxpayers’ time and money pursuing their foreign policy agenda," adding that "the UK must have a consistent approach to foreign policy, set by the UK government."

“These campaigns not only undermine the UK’s foreign policy but lead to appalling antisemitic rhetoric and abuse. That is why we have taken this decisive action to stop these disruptive policies once and for all.”

Following a commitment in the 2019 Conservative general election manifesto, the boycott, divestment, and sanctions bill was first mentioned in the Queen's speech in 2022.

Documentation released with the speech last year said that the government has no tolerance for discrimination, which pits different communities against each other. It referenced motions passed by the Lancaster city council in support of such campaigns in 2021 and by the Leicester city council to boycott goods from Israeli settlements in 2014.

Hence, the legislation would enable ministers to investigate suspected breaches of the ban, and public bodies that break the new rules could face “significant” fines, the Telegraph reported.

Before 2019, the Leicester, Swansea, and Gwynedd councils passed motions to boycott produce from “illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, until "Israel" complies with international law and withdraws from Palestinian-occupied territories”.

Jeremy Corbyn, Keir Starmer’s predecessor, supported targeted action against illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, though he did not back a blanket boycott on "Israel." However, the current Labour leader has said the party does not support the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement.