Baroness Deech writes for ePolitix.com ahead of her House of Lords question on raising awareness within the TUC of the government position on boycotts of Israel.
On 17 September 2009, the Trades Union Congress approved several motions relating to Israel.
Demanding that Israel end its "occupation of Palestinian Territories… the separation wall and the illegal settlements", and condemning the country's "military aggression", the General Council approved a boycott campaign targeted at Israeli goods originating from the disputed territories.
This relentless focus on Israel by Britain's trade unions has now become a regular feature of our political landscape.
In the past year alone, six out of the ten largest UK unions have passed motions with references to boycotts of Israel, and in May the University and College Union attempted once again to introduce a boycott of Israel's academic institutions; this despite an announcement that such a boycott would be considered "void and of no effect" in accordance with discrimination legislation.
One must question the motivation behind this latest TUC decision.
While Israel has been routinely judged, subjected to frequent boycott motions and besieged with calls for the international community to suspend trade and the EU-Israel Association Agreement, horrendous human rights violations in the Congo, the Sudan and Rwanda have warranted no comment from the TUC, let alone sanctions or boycotts.
The TUC's decision begs enquiry as to why Israel, a thriving and continually self-scrutinising democracy, has been singled out for such widespread, continuous attention from Britain's trade unions.
No other country has been subjected to such unremitting focus, and similar boycotts have not been implemented for other 'occupied territories'.
How can such a blatant double standard be embraced as the right way forward?
At a time when the British economy is fighting off bankruptcy, when we are billions of pounds in debt and unemployment is sky-rocketing, the TUC singling out Israel for a boycott is beyond belief.
The TUC should have its focus squarely on the issues faced by its members at home, rather than on disrupting positive engagement with Israel through counterproductive boycott motions.
According to the IMF, the West Bank has experienced growth of five to seven per cent this year.
In propagating the upsurge of boycott motions levelled at Israel in recent months, the TUC is undermining progress in the region.
Only through dialogue, co-operation and compromise, rather than fervour for unjustified punishment, can progress be made towards a lasting peace in the Middle East.
Article Comments
Bravo!!!A voice of truth in the wilderness.
13th Nov 2009 at 1:46 pm by I Perelmuter
