Workers' Liberty

An open letter to Hilary and Steven Rose from John O’Mahony

Comrades: As well-known supporters of the proposal to boycott Israel, you will have been pleased by the boycott resolutions carried recently by the lecturers’ union UCU and the journalists’ union NUJ, and by the move to “boycott Israeli institutions” contained in Resolution 54 to the conference (starting 19 June) of the public services union Unison.

These basic policies on Israel-Palestine — policies which allow a way forward through building working-class unity across the divides — were adopted by the Executive of the Communication Workers’ Union in 2002.

If not boycott, what? There is a wide range of positive activities by which we can make solidarity with the Palestinians without the drawbacks of boycott. In fact, the boycott demand often serves a diversion, directing people towards token or downright counterproductive activities instead of what they could do positively.

Israel-Palestine: Solidarity yes, boycott no