Na’amod: What is the BDS Bill and the Right to Boycott Campaign
JVL Introduction
Na’amod, a movement of British Jews seeking to end our community’s support for the occupation with #ActionsNotWords, took its protest to the Tory Party Conference.
And here’s the evidence to prove it!
We also include details of the Right to Boycott Campaign.
This article was originally published by Na'amod on Tue 4 Oct 2022. Read the original here.
What is the BDS Bill and why are we protesting it?
What does the Bill say?
The UK government introduced the BDS Bill in the Queen’s Speech in May 2022. The Bill prevents public bodies from participating in boycotts, divestments or sanctions against ‘foreign countries or territories’ that are ‘inconsistent with official UK foreign policy’. The government claims the Bill will combat antisemitism and promote ‘community cohesion’.
What are public bodies?
These include local councils, universities, museums, and galleries. The Bill will stop such organisations from taking action for human rights and deciding how they want to invest their money.
What does this all mean?
The UK Govt is once again cracking down on our rights – boycott is a legitimate form of protest and free speech.
The Bill targets advocacy and activism for Palestinians, and uses the Jewish community as a justification for this anti-democratic law.
Why did we blow the shofar?
Na’amodnik Tamara said:
“The blowing of the shofar symbolises a call to action for justice and a demand for righteous action in the world. Its piercing sound rouses us from indifference, moves us to action and renews our conviction to keep going despite seemingly insurmountable challenges.”
What now?!
— Na’amod protested at the Tory Party Conference calling for this Bill to be dropped.
— Na’amod has joined the #RightToBoycott campaign, with many other civil society orgs, to mobilise for justice. Read the coalition statement here: https://righttoboycott.org.uk.
— Continue to spread awareness of the Bill and defend our right to protest.
— Call out the Govt’s use of Jewish fears to further its own agenda.
As a group of civil society organisations made up of trade unions, charities, NGOs, faith, climate justice, human rights, cultural, campaigning, and solidarity organisations, we advocate for the right of public bodies to decide not to purchase or procure from, or invest in companies involved in human rights abuse, abuse of workers’ rights, destruction of our planet, or any other harmful or illegal acts. We therefore oppose the government’s proposed law to stop public bodies from taking such actions.
The government has indicated that a main intention of any legislation is to ensure that public bodies follow UK foreign policy in their purchasing, procurement, and investment decisions, particularly relating to Israel and Palestine. We are concerned that this would prevent public bodies from deciding not to invest in or procure from companies complicit in the violation of the rights of the Palestinian people. We affirm that it is the right of public bodies to do so, and in fact a responsibility to break ties with companies contributing to abuses of rights and violations of international law in occupied Palestine and anywhere else where such acts occur.
From bus boycotts against racial segregation to divestment from fossil fuel companies to arms embargoes against apartheid, boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaigns have been applied throughout history to put economic, cultural, or political pressure on a regime, institution, or company to force it to change abusive, discriminatory, or illegal policies. If passed, this law will stifle a wide range of campaigns concerned with the arms trade, climate justice, human rights, international law, and international solidarity with oppressed peoples struggling for justice. The proposed law presents a threat to freedom of expression, and the ability of public bodies and democratic institutions to spend, invest and trade ethically in line with international law and human rights.
We call on the UK government to immediately halt this bill, on opposition parties to oppose it and on civil society to mobilise in support of the right to boycott in the cause of justice.
- Amos trust
- Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA)
- Anti Apartheid Movement Archives Committee
- Artists for Palestine UK
- Artists Union England
- ASLEF Union
- Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU)
- British Committee for the Universities of Palestine
- BRISMES Campaigns
- British Palestinian Council
- Campaign Against Arms Trade
- Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
- Communication Workers Union (CWU)
- Ethical Consumer Magazine
- Europal Forum
- European Legal Support Centre
- Fire Brigades Union (FBU)
- Free Speech on Israel
- Friends of Birzeit University (FOBZU)
- Friends of Al Aqsa
- Friends of the Earth (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
- Friends of the Earth (Scotland)
- Global Justice Now
- Greenpeace UK
- Institute of Race Relations
- International Centre of Justice for Palestinians
- Israeli Committee against House Demolitions UK
- Jews for Justice for Palestinians (JJP)
- Labour and Palestine
- Liberty
- London Mining Network
- Makan
- Methodist Church in Britain
- Movement for the Abolition of War
- Muslim Association of Britain
- Na’amod: UK Jews Against the Occupation.
- National Education Union
- National Union of Students
- Netpol
- Palestine Solidarity Campaign
- Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB)
- People and Planet
- Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
- Quaker Roots
- Quakers in Britain
- Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers Union (RMT)
- Sabeel-Kairos UK
- SOS-UK (NUS climate campaign)
- Stamp out Poverty
- Stop the War Coalition
- Transport Salaried Staffs Association Union (TSSA)
- UNISON
- Unite the Union
- United Reformed Church
- University and College Union (UCU)
- War on Want
- Western Sahara Campaign UK
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Additional signatories: Boycott Divest Zabludowicz; Boycott Turkey Campaign; Jewish Solidarity Action
“The government claims the Bill will combat antisemitism and promote ‘community cohesion’.”
No it will not. Personally, for what it’s worth, I like to tell people enraged by this Orwellian BS about the Jews that were jailed alongside Nelson Mandela. And when I do this – they tend to look relieved.
The Tories support Israel, so if the Bill goes through, Israel will be happy. Starmer supports Israel, so the LP will not be challenging to stop the Bill, Israel will be happy. What a state of affairs this is.
We live in a one party fascist state. If you need proof…………..