TUC - Middle East Debate

A targeted boycott of Israeli goods originating from illegal settlements has been agreed by the TUC.

Hugh Lanning, chairman of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, described the TUC move as a "landmark" decision which followed a wave of motions passed at individual union conferences this year because of outrage at Israel's brutal war on Gaza.

Typically the the Israeli embassy rounded on the commitment to a boycott passed at the TUC congress.

However, reiterating the TUC's condemnation of the offensive, Brendan Barber, told delegates that they "have a part to play" in seeing an end to the occupation, a dismantling of the separation wall and the removal of the illegal settlements. We believe that targeted action – aimed at goods from the illegal settlements and at companies involved in the occupation and the wall – is the right way forward. This is not a call for a general boycott of Israeli goods and services, which would hit ordinary Palestinian and Israeli workers but targeted, consumer-led sanctions directed at businesses based in, and sustaining, the illegal settlements."

The press has reported on the behind the scene wrangling with talk of splits in the Unite delegation. However the facts are that the General Council recommended support for the FBU motion with a UCU amendment, to oppose the GMB wrecking amendment, (which was withdrawn) and drafted its own statement with delegates supported. There was no split among the Unite members (as was reported in the media).

The TUC statement condemned both the Israeli January offensive and the rocket attacks on Israeli citizens.

Brendan Barber said: "Both were unacceptable, and both have led to the UN investigation concluding that war crimes may have been committed. The blockade of Gaza, which continues to this day, is intolerable collective punishment."

The statement called on the British government to make appropriate representations to the international community to secure lasting peace through a negotiated settlement based on "justice for the Palestinians and on security for Israel."

The TUC wants an end to arms sales to Israel, which rose to £18.8m last year, up from £7.7m the year before.

Many unions are furious with Israel's TUC equivalent body, Histadrut, for a statement issued in January which backed the attacks in Gaza, which resulted in 1,540 deaths and left 5,000 injured. Brendan Barber said the TUC would continue to press Histadrut to take a firmer line, and to help Israel and Palestinian unions to work together for the prospect of peace of people in their region.

"The situation in the Middle east is Grim," said Brendan. "Our brothers and sisters every day face terrible problems. They need all our support in creating a just and lasting peace. President Obama is now trying to move things forward and we all wish him every success. But we too have a part to play."

Tabling the FBU motion, Mick Shaw, the FBU president, said the general council statement did not go far enough.

"It's not just an issue of a boycott of goods produced in illegal settlements. Firstly, we think that impractical. These goods do not come with a label which says 'these goods are produced on an illegal settlement'. We feel we need to have discussions with Palestinian trade unions, discussions with the PLC [Palestinian Legislative Council], where we can put most pressure on the Israeli government and to target a consumer boycott better."

Speaking after the debate, Shaw said the TUC policy now in place "was an important shift" in reaction to the military action earlier this year.

"We will now try to identify goods and products where the most pressure can be put on the Israeli government to persuade them to change their policies."

Hugh Lanning, chairman of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said it was a "landmark" decision which followed a wave of motions passed at union conferences this year because of "outrage" at Israel's "brutal war" on Gaza.

The TUC position gives individual unions an opt out following pressure from the University and College Union in a clause which says that "in undertaking these actions each affiliate will operate within its own aims and objectives within the law".