Israel has been flouting international law since it’s founding nearly 60 years ago and, for the last 40 year has been in brutal military occupation of the Palestinian territories. Its policies of systematic ethnic cleansing, its human rights abuses and the crushing of the Palestinian political, social and economic identity must be brought to an end before it is too late.
Diplomacy and dialogue have failed. International governments have failed even to protect the human rights of the people of Palestine, let alone their right to self determination. We consider that it is now time for the UK civil society to act by imposing a social, political and cultural boycott of Israel. We consider this to be a peaceful means by which Israel can be forced to change where politicians have failed.
Those opposed to the boycott frequently ask, “Why Israel? Why not other countries with poor civil rights records?”
There are many very good reasons:-
1 . Why not Israel? If our accusations are just, and they are, then the fact that we cannot address all such violations is no justification for failing to act on those we can.
2. The UK has a special responsibility. The UK bears an enormous responsibility for creating the problem in the first place, beginning with the Balfour Declaration in 1917 and continuing up to the present day.
3. Israel claims to be a Western Democracy and has a special relationship with the EC. Israeli-style behaviour would not be countenanced anywhere in Europe. Unlike China, Darfor, Burma etc, Israel presents itself as a civilized western democracy upholding common values on human rights etc, and seeks to be recognized as such by the international community.
4. World Peace requires it. The Israel /Palestine conflict is a key factor in the worsening relations between Islamic and Western societies. Do not forget that Israel is a major nuclear power with up to 400 illegal nuclear warheads at its disposal. Unless and until the conflict can be resolved there can be no prospect for peace in the Middle East or anywhere else. It is therefore in Britain’s our own interest to bring this conflict to an end
5. It is achievable. The lesson of South Africa is that an effective boycott can have a profound effect . Israel’s economic social and cultural life is closely integrated with that of the UK and the strength of their reaction to the discussion of a possible boycott by the UCU shows how vulnerable they consider themselves to be.
6. Action is urgent. The Palestinian people are at risk of annihilation at the hands of the Israelis if the outside world does not intervene soon.
|