U.K. labor unions vote to back boycott of Israeli products

British labor unions yesterday agreed to support a boycott of some Israeli goods in response to last winter's offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The boycott, proposed by the British Fire Brigades Union, calls for a ban on importing goods produced in some Israeli settlements, an end of arms trading with Israel and divestment from some companies.

A motion proposed at the conference of labor union officials also condemns the actions of Hamas.

About 1,400 Palestinians, including hundreds of civilians, were killed during Operation Cast Lead, which sought to stop rocket fire by Gaza militants on southern Israeli towns. Thirteen Israelis also died, including four civilians.

In May of this year, Norway's largest labor union urged the Scandinavian country to lead an international boycott of Israel if it did not reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, whose members constitute more than one third of the country's employees, said in a statement that both Israel and the Palestinians deserve to live in peace and security, but as long as this was not achieved, the Israeli government was to be held accountable.

The organization urged Israel to put an end to the "illegal occupation," respect the 1967 borders, halt the expansion of West Bank settlements and take down the separation fence.

In February, Irish trade unionists announced that they were planing to launch a boycott of Israeli goods in 2009. Meanwhile, the University of Manchester Students' Union adopted a resolution supporting a boycott of Israel.

In moving ahead with plans to boycott Israel, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions says it is relying on "evidence" left in the aftermath of the Israeli invasion into Gaza during Cast Lead.

It also said it is drawing from a "fact-finding mission" conducted by a dozen of its senior members in Gaza more than a year ago. Leaders within the Irish Congress of Trade Unions are to hold a conference this year to act as "a springboard" for their campaign.