A JEWISH rights organisation is threatening legal action against Clackmannanshire Council over its ongoing boycott of Israeli goods.
The local authority adopted a motion in March 2013 not to undertake “any action that gives political or economic support to the State of Israel” in a message of solidarity to the people of Palestine.
Indeed, they are not the only council in Scotland to do so with Stirling, Highlands and West Dunbartonshire all imposing similar protocols in the last few years.
However, the newly-established Jewish Human Rights Watch (JHRW) has argued these actions are “anti-Jewish” and will await legislation from the UK government to decide whether to pursue legal action.
A statement from the group said: “It is not the responsibility of local councils in the UK to make foreign policy which is directly leading to the rise in anti-Semitic attacks against UK Jews.
“This is a proxy war which has no place in local councils in the UK. Such actions have only one aim: to intimidate and make the UK Jewish population feel threatened and unwelcome.
“These hate motions are completely unacceptable.”
JHRW director Jonathan Newmann told the Advertiser this week: “As far as we’re concerned, these are anti-Jewish motions and we intend to do away with them.
“We will see what the national legislation will bring before we decided whether we need to take this to the courts.
“Boycotts like these, whether in big cities or universities, are often accompanied by anti-Jewish sentiment. And in places where the population or Jews may be small, the protection of minorities must be upheld.”
The motion originally put forth in March 2013 was adopted with 11 of the 18 councillors backing the proposal.
It read: “Clackmannanshire Council condemns the Government of Israel for its continuing illegal occupation of Palestine’s East Jerusalem and the West Bank and for its continuing illegal blockade of Gaza.”
The statement went on: “Just as individual sanctions against apartheid in South Africa ultimately led to its demise there, so individual and collective sanctions against the State of Israel will end apartheid and suffering in Palestine.”
Campaigners for Palestinian rights accused the JHRW of hypocrisy, pointing to ongoing accusation of human rights violations perpetrated by the State of Israel in recent years.
Mick Napier, national committee member for the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: “It will be interesting to see what conceivable legal action they could take against an elected council.
“This boycott of Israel goods in Clackmannanshire was imposed until such time as Israel complies with basic international law with regards to human rights. We feel, given the state of public opinion, most people will back the side of the council here.”
A spokesperson for Clackmannanshire Council said: “We have not had any correspondence from the Jewish Human Rights Watch. 
“As a local authority, we treat all economic operators equally and without discrimination. Clackmannanshire Council’s procurement process is open to companies from all over the world, including Israel.”