Victory for BDS as High Court rules councils can boycott Israel
Once again, the Zionists' attempts to attack local democracy in favour of the interests of amoral capitalism, which believes that the rights of human beings and the victims of Israel's vicious racism should be subordinated to profit, has been defeated. This follows on the spectacularly unsuccessful case a few years ago, Fraser v Universities and Colleges Union when the Tribunal ruled that 'We greatly regret that the case was ever brought. At heart, it represents an impermissible attempt to achieve a political end by litigious means.'
Today’s High Court ruling in favour of three councils which have boycotted Israeli settlement goods has been hailed as a “victory for the Palestinian-led boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign and for democracy”.
The landmark ruling is also a rejection of the Government’s attempts, in February, to stop councils from adopting ethical procurement and investment policies by implying that legal action could be brought successfully against them.
Sara Apps, interim Director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), said:
“Today’s High Court ruling is an important victory for the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign and for democracy itself. Councils have been told categorically by the High Court that there is nothing unlawful in ethically boycotting Israeli settlement goods, and PSC welcomes this ruling.
"The UK government’s attempts to intimidate local councils into dropping ethical procurement and investment policies clearly have no legal basis. Councils can legally adopt policies which avoid or end links with Israel’s illegal settlements.
"We applaud Leicester, Swansea and Gwynedd councils for standing up for their democratic right to free speech, and we look forward to working alongside them and other councils who choose to adopt policies in support of Palestinian human rights.”
The case against Leicester, Swansea and Gwynedd city councils was brought by Jewish Human Rights Watch, which has been ordered to pay the legal costs of all three councils.