The Jewish Chronicle reports:
One of Scotland’s smallest councils has implemented a boycott of Israel after comparing the country to apartheid South Africa.
Clackmannanshire Council said it would resist all economic and political support for Israel in order to “end suffering in Palestine”.
The boycott was implemented by 11 councillors after lobbying by anti-Israel activists from the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
The Scottish National Party-led authority has a combined population of around 50,000.
I have no idea how many of that population are Jews, but if you try googling “Jews of Clackmannanshire” or “Jewish population of Clackmannanshire,” you’ll get some idea.
Someone needs to remind the council of what they’ll have to give up if they really want to boycott all things Israeli.
I invite readers (especially those who live in or near Clackmannanshire) to contact the council members and (without threats or insults) explain to them why they are wrong and ask them to consider reversing their position. If you get any replies, please let us know.
Update: there also was this rather lightweight effort by West Dunbartonshire.
Update: HP commenter, CityCA reproduces this e-mail exchange:
12:01am
Murray Freedman
Please explain why the council has agreed to boycott Israel. Is there any other nation or organisation that the council has decided to boycott?
Thanks in anticipation of the courtesy of your reply.
Monday
8:44am
Clackmannanshire Council
Thanks for your message Murray. The Council is not implementing a boycott of Israel. Council has though, agreed to resist, insofar as legislative considerations permit, any action that provides political or economic support to the state of Israel.
9:48am
Murray Freedman
Thanks for your reply, but I’m not really clear on what that means.
If you will not buy anything from Israel, is that not a boycott of Israeli goods?
Secondly, please advise whether the council has taken the same action in respect of any other state.
Thanks again.
