UK Government to Prohibit Public Institutions from Implementing Israel Boycotts
The British government is set to introduce a bill on Monday, aimed at ending disruptive policies related to boycotting Israeli products once and for all. This move comes in response to concerns over anti-Semitic rhetoric and abuse associated with such boycotts.
The proposed bill, announced by Michael Gove, the Minister for Local Government, intends to combat the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Gove stated that it is unacceptable for public bodies to use taxpayers' time and money to pursue their own foreign policy agendas.
The UK needs to adopt a coherent approach to foreign policy, defined by the British government, according to Gove. This commitment to ban local authorities from boycotting Israeli products was first mentioned in the 2019 election manifesto of the Conservative Party.
The bill follows a trend set by Leicester City Council, which made a similar decision to boycott Israeli products in 2014. Reports suggest that other councils, such as Swansea and Gwynedd, have also launched boycotts against Jewish settlements in the West Bank. However, Lancaster City Council's decision to support Israel-related boycotts in 2021 was cited as an example in the documents accompanying the Queen's speech.
Substantial fines will be imposed on offenders under the proposed bill. The bill's announcement was also mentioned in Queen Elizabeth II's annual address, a few months before her death at the age of 96.
In recent years, some local councils and public bodies in the UK have initiated boycotts against products of Israeli origin, often related to support for the BDS movement opposing Israeli policies in the occupied territories. These boycotts have frequently met with political resistance and legal challenges, leading to debates but limited nationwide official boycotts. Consequences have included diplomatic tensions and discussions on trade implications.
The proposed legislation argues that the BDS movement is often accompanied by anti-Semitic rhetoric. The bill is intended to end disruptive policies related to boycotting Israeli products and maintain a unified foreign policy stance for the UK.
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