London: At a conference on Friday, the second-largest trade union in the UK supported the Palestinian-led BDS movement against Israel.
Three motions in support of BDS were passed by Unite, one of 15 trade unions connected to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the employer of 1.2 million workers.
One, which received unanimous support, urges the UK government to drop the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) bill. This legislation forbids public organisations, such as councils, from initiating their own boycotts and specifically mentions Israel and the Occupied Territories.
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The motion stated that the bill "seeks to restrict public bodies' ability to make moral decisions about spending and investment that reflect broad public support for human rights, climate goals, and international law."
Additionally, according to PSC, the bill would "protect companies engaged in human rights abuse or environmental destruction by prohibiting public bodies from cutting financial ties with them over abusive or illegal actions committed in a foreign state, unless expressly permitted to do so by the government."
Another motion called for the UK government to renounce its free-trade agreement with Israel and reaffirmed the union's recognition of Israel as a country that engages in apartheid.
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Moreover, it referred to Unite's backing of BDS campaigns against corporations with connections to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories.
At the conference, the union also vowed to encourage workers to sign a petition opposing the government bill and promote the Right to Boycott campaign among its membership.
Another motion that was approved dealt with the designation of six Palestinian civil society and human rights organisations as "terrorist" organisations by the Israeli Defence Ministry.
According to the conference, the targeted organisations "provide services and support to women, children, farmers, and prisoners, and collectively support thousands of Palestinians." This is a "direct assault in an effort to isolate and restrict human rights defenders," it added.
Unite demanded that the UK government reiterate its support for Palestinian civil society and that the Israeli government retract its "spurious" claims..
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PSC Director Ben Jamal stated: "Unanimous support from Unite's members is crucial for motions affirming support for BDS at a time when the government's anti-boycott bill seeks to undermine the legitimacy of the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment, and sanctions.
"United has made it clear that it will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Palestinian people and reject all attempts to delegitimize their liberation struggle," reads a statement from the organisation.