Scottish Council calls for Boycott of Israeli Goods

Scotland's SNP led West Dunbartonshire Council is calling for a boycott of all Israeli-made products, including books which are ‘published and printed’ in Israel. However, books that are already available at libraries will not be removed and the Council has no intention to silence pro-Israeli writers or commentators, contrary to various reports, and as made to believe by pro-Israeli groups.

A West Dunbartonshire Council spokesman said: “Our boycott does not in any way seek to censor or silence authors and commentators from Israel. It is not retrospective and absolutely no books have been or will be removed from libraries.”

Though this stance has not previously been in the spotlight or gained recognition of any sort, the boycott has in fact been active for the past two and a half years. The full motion below, which was proposed by former Scottish Socialist Party councillor Jim Bollan, following the Gaza flotilla incident in 2009, is as follows:

‘This Council deplores the loss of life in Palestine which now numbers well over 1,000. This Council also recognises the disproportionate force used by the IDF in Palestine and agrees to boycott all Israeli goods as a consequence. Officers should immediately cease the purchase of any goods we currently source, which were made or grown in Israel. Officers should also ensure we procure no new goods or produce from Israel until this boycott is formally lifted by WDC.”

Deputy leader of West Dunbartonshire Council, Councillor Jonathon McColl, made a video in which he recommends the boycott of Israeli goods and explains why West Dunbartonshire Council have made such a brave move.

The Council's decision to boycott Israeli goods seems to have been made as a result of Operation Cast Lead (the Israeli offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in 2008-9), where Israel massacred 1000 innocent people. Due to such inhumane tactics being deployed, councillors unanimously concluded to ban all products produced in Israel.

The Palestinian cause is a human cause, truly worth fighting for. Many non-Muslim councillors openly oppose and are active in their boycott of Israel. What are Muslim MPs doing? They must truly take note, as clearly they are failing to make much noise, if any. How can Muslims ignore seven decades of illegal occupation of another peoples' land. The systematic humiliation of the Palestinians? The illegal and murderous siege of Gaza?

Get up, get politically active, join campaigns and seek justice for your fellow human beings. If humanity needs you, if our ailing Ummah needs you, it is now. Not tomorrow, not when you've become an Alim and perfected yourself, but now.

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