Britain’s largest trade union, the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has passed a motion identifying Israel as a state practicing apartheid and called for the continued support of the Palestinian people.
TUC, which has nearly six million members, voted on Tuesday, in favor of a motion put forward by Unite the Union which opposes the current Israeli government’s plans to annex up to 30 percent of the West Bank.
Breaking: @The_TUC passes motion (correctly) defining the Israeli regime in the West Bank as apartheid, calls for sanctions: https://t.co/qieIfGQubE
— Asa Winstanley (@AsaWinstanley) September 15, 2020
The motion identifies annexation as “another significant step in the creation of a system of apartheid” and has been welcomed by representatives of Palestinian civil society.
The motion came a week after a statement was released by over 20 charities, trade unions, religious groups, and civil society organizations urgently calling on public bodies to “uphold their ethical and legal responsibilities to ensure human rights and international law are respected” as a direct response to Israel’s illegal annexation plans.
🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨
Motion passes at @THE_TUC Congress 2020 opposing Israel’s annexation plans and identifying Israel as a state practicing apartheid for the first time in TUC history 🇵🇸✊🏽
Read more below👇🏽https://t.co/ayU0TXL4ST
— PSC (@PSCupdates) September 15, 2020
“Congress stands united in its full opposition to the Israeli government’s declared intention to annex great swathes of the West Bank,” said the TUC motion describing the move as “illegal under international law” which “makes clear there is no intent on the part of the Israeli government to end the occupation and recognize the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.”
Such a move “will be another significant step in the creation of a system of apartheid”, said the TUC.
“For too long the international community has stood idly by as the Israeli state has been allowed to carry out its crimes and this cannot be tolerated or accepted any longer,” the motion went on to say. “Decisive action is now urgently needed in relation to Israel’s illegal actions against the Palestinians.”
Great news! The UK’s @THE_TUC, representing over 5.5 million working people from 48 unions, just passed a motion opposing Israel’s annexation and apartheid, and calling for sanctions. #TradeUnionSolidarity #SanctionsOnApartheid @PSCUpdates Press Release: https://t.co/3YNUBF643y pic.twitter.com/RjzZqDxBBE
— BDS movement (@BDSmovement) September 16, 2020
TUC congress urged to “fully support and play an active role in the Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s actions to build a broad coalition against the proposed Israeli annexation and to urge all affiliates to do likewise.”
A letter will be sent to the British prime minister “demanding that the UK take firm and decisive measures, including sanctions, to ensure that Israel stops or reverses the illegal annexation, ends the occupation of the West Bank and blockade of Gaza, and respects the right of Palestinian refugees to return.”
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)
