UK trade unions back boycott and sanctions motion against Israel

The Trades Union Congress has voted to support a motion calling for boycotts and sanctions against Israel, in a move that marks the first time the UK labour federation has backed the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement. The vote took place on Wednesday at the organisation's annual conference in Brighton, southern England. The motion was passed unanimously, according to the supplied report, and was framed as a response to the war in Gaza and violence in the occupied West Bank.

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The congress represents more than 5.3 million workers across the United Kingdom. The motion called on the organisation to take action against what it described as the "catastrophic destruction of Gaza" and settler violence in the West Bank, which it said was supported by the Israeli army. It also urged campaigning to end military cooperation and arms deals with Israel, and asked the government to impose wide-ranging sanctions.

The proposal was introduced by Artists' Union England, with Zita Holborne telling delegates that the trade union movement should answer the call from the BDS movement and use its collective power to stand with Palestinians. Omar Barghouti, a co-founder of the BDS movement, welcomed the vote and said the campaign still needed to grow because current measures were not enough to meet legal obligations to end complicity in genocide, apartheid and illegal occupation. His comments underline the political significance of the decision within the wider pro-Palestinian campaign.

The vote adds pressure on the UK government at a time when it has already taken some steps over Israeli settlements. Last week, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced a ban on importing goods from Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law. In Parliament, he also used strong language about violence by settlers in parts of the West Bank, while saying he still "wholeheartedly" supported other aspects of government policy.

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The union vote therefore lands in the middle of a broader debate over how far the UK should go in responding to the conflict. The decision is also notable because the Trades Union Congress is the umbrella body for a large section of the UK labour movement. Its backing for BDS is likely to be read as a sign of growing pressure from union activists and Palestine solidarity campaigners.

It may also sharpen discussion inside the Labour movement and among ministers about military cooperation, arms exports and sanctions policy. The motion does not itself change government policy, but it gives organised labour a clearer public position on the conflict. What remains unclear is how much practical follow-through the congress will pursue and whether affiliated unions will adopt further measures.

It is also not yet clear how the government will respond to the call for wider sanctions. The vote is likely to remain politically sensitive because it touches on the war in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and the UK's relationship with Israel. Further reactions from ministers, union leaders and pro-Israel groups will show whether the motion becomes mainly symbolic or leads to sustained campaigning.

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