I
World
Israel Ban Blasted
U.S. labor leaders take issue with
British union divestment call.
nited States labor leaders are
denouncing British union
support for a boycott of
Israel.
Their response comes in the wake of
a decision by several unions, includ-
ing the UK Transport and General
Workers Union, to back economic, cul-
tural and academic boycotts of Israel
in protest against "the treatment of the
Palestinian people."
"Their resolutions have no purpose
other than demonizing Israel;' said
Stuart Appelbaum, president of the
Jewish Labor Committee, an alliance
of Jewish union leaders and support-
ers soliciting support for a statement
Don't Divest From Israel
This is an abridged version of the
Jewish Labor Committee's state-
ment opposing divestment from or
boycotts of Israel:
"We view with increasing con-
cern the phenomenon of trade
unions in a number of countries,
including, most recently, the
United Kingdom, issuing resolu-
tions that either directly or indi-
rectly call for divestment from and
boycotts of Israel.
"With the large number of local,
regional and international con-
flicts, with the diverse range of
oppressive regimes around the
world about which there is almost
universal silence, we have to ques-
tion the motives of these resolu-
tions that single out one country
in one conflict.
"We note with increasing con-
cern that virtually all of these
resolutions focus solely on objec-
tions to actions or policies of the
Israeli government, and never on
actions or policies of Palestinian
or other Arab governments, par-
ties or movements. We notice
with increasing concern that char-
acterization of the Palestinians as
victims and Israel as victimizer is
a staple of such resolutions. That
there are victims and victimizers
on all sides, and that many if not
most of the victims of violence
and repression on all sides are
civilians, are essential items.
opposing these boycotts.
Appelbaum, who is also president
of Retail, Wholesale and Department
Store Union, said, "The U.S. labor
movement has always been a strong
supporter of Israel and continues to
be."
He added that American union lead-
ers "understand that resolutions call-
ing for boycotts of Israel undermine
the goal of winning a lasting peace in
the Middle East."
"It's obvious that the motivation
behind these one-sided boycotts is less
an authentic concern for human rights
than it is a desire to bash Israel;' he
said.
"Any just and fair resolution
of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
must be brought about through
meaningful negotiations between
their elected representatives. We
believe strongly in a two-state
solution, brought about through
meaningful negotiations, with the
involvement and encouragement
of the world community.
"Calls for academic boycotts of
Israel are inimical to and counter
to the principles of academic free-
dom and freedom of association,
key principles for which academ-
ics and educational unions have
struggled over many years.
""Rather than divestment from
Israel, we believe that investment
of time, energy and material aid
is the best means to alleviate the
ongoing suffering of Palestinians
and Israelis. Engagement, rather
than disengagement, with the
Israeli people and the Palestinian
people is needed, so that a just
and fair resolution of this con-
flict may be pursued, and so that
meaningful progress towards
achieving the legitimate needs of
Palestinians and Israelis can be
made." [ I
Signers include auto industry labor
leaders Ron Gettelfinger, United
Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural
Implement Workers of America
International Union; and James P.
Hoffa, International Brotherhood of
Teamsters.
to
r
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July 26 • 2007
21