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'There is no mention of Israel’s unilateral redeployment from Gaza .' Toronto
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ADL slams Ontario union’s vote to boycott Israel

Anti-Defamation League Director Abe Foxman says in response to Canadian Union of Public Employees resolution to support international campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel ‘once again, a labor union has voted to take the deplorable and offensive step of attempting to isolate and vilify the State of Israel while taking a strongly one-sided view of the conflict

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Wednesday labeled as “deplorable and offensive” a call by the Ontario branch of Canada’s largest labor unions for a full range of anti-Israel boycott activity.

 

At its annual meeting on May 28, the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) unanimously passed a resolution to “support the international campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions” against Israel. The vote almost directly coincided with the passage on May 29 of an anti-Israel boycott resolution by an academic union in Britain.

 

“Once again, a labor union has voted to take the deplorable and offensive step of attempting to isolate and vilify the State of Israel while taking a strongly one-sided view of the conflict,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.

 

'Apartheid in Israel'

 

“While full of propagandistic hyperbole, the union’s resolution makes no effort to reflect current realities on the ground in the region. There is no mention of Israel’s unilateral redeployment from Gaza and proposed action in the West Bank, nor is there any recognition of the challenges posed by the terrorist group Hamas’ reign over the Palestinian Authority and its refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist or to renounce terror,” he said.

 

The CUPE resolution urged members to “support the international campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions until Israel meets its obligations to recognize the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of international law including the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.”

 

The resolution further called for solidarity with the Palestinians, the development of an “education campaign about the apartheid nature of the Israeli state,” and for lobbying against Canadian support for Israel.

 

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) represents 450,000 workers in health care, education, municipalities, libraries, universities, social services, public utilities, transportation, emergency services and airlines. The national union has not taken a position on Israeli-Palestinian relations.

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.31.06, 15:28
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