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Board President urges Starmer to reject 'divisive' Nandy proposal for West Bank goods ban

Reacting to the shadow foreign secretary's plan Marie van der Zyl said;‘I would urge Sir Keir and the Labour Party not to go down this route.'

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Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl has urged Sir Keir Starmer to reject a proposal from his shadow foreign secretary calling for the UK to ban the import of goods from illegal settlements in the West Bank if the Israeli government presses ahead with annexation plans.

Labour’s Lisa Nandy had announced the plan, which is being backed the Labour leader, on Sunday arguing Britain cannot be “a silent witness” to Israel’s planned extension of sovereignty to some 30 percent of the West Bank.

But in a statement responding to the proposal Mrs van der Zyl said she would ‘’urge Sir Keir and the Labour Party not to go down this route.’’

She said:’’ The tactic of BDS is divisive and seeks to strike at the very legitimacy of the State of Israel, the Middle East’s only democracy and the world’s only Jewish State.”

Speaking to The Observer, Labour’s Ms Nandy said: "The government must be clear with the Israeli coalition government that concrete action will follow, including a ban on goods entering Britain from the illegal settlements in the West Bank.

"This is a major step, but such a blatant breach of international law must have consequences. It will take a level of courage that so far ministers have not been willing to show."

The proposal is seen as being tougher than previous calls by Labour for diplomatic efforts to halt any land expansion by Israel.

The Board President added: “At our meeting with Keir Starmer on 19 June, I told him that while the UK Jewish community is divided on annexation, there is far more unity on the Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

‘’I would urge Sir Keir and the Labour Party not to go down this route. ‘’

Under the unity government deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can begin advancing annexation on July 1, which he has repeatedly pledged to do.

Palestinians and much of the international community say the move could scuttle any hopes of a viable Palestinian state.

 

 

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