CFI welcome BDS legislation

BY ADAM MOSES

The Conservative Friends of Israel has welcomed “ground-breaking” legislation to prevent public bodies in the UK from pursuing BDS activities.

The ‘Economic Activity of Public Bodies Bill’ will stop local councils and all UK public bodies from adopting boycotts, divestments and sanctions targeting Israel.

The bill follows the Conservative Party’s 2019 Manifesto pledge to “ban public bodies from imposing their own direct or indirect boycotts, divestment or sanctions campaigns against foreign countries”, which was reiterated in the Queens’ Speech in 2022.

Responding to the introduction, CFI’s Parliamentary Chairmen Stephen Crabb, The Lord Pickles and CFI Honorary President Lord Polak said in a statement: “Today marks a watershed moment in tackling the divisive BDS movement. The Government’s ground-breaking legislation will play a critical role in ending the abuse of public bodies for anti-Israel activity. BDS is harmful not only to community cohesion here in the UK but also the wider cause of peace between Israelis and Palestinians”.

Crabb added: “This landmark legislation marks a major step in the battle against the pernicious BDS movement.