"The UK does not support boycotts against Israel as they are unhelpful and polarize the debate," British Secretary of State for Business Peter Mandelson told Ynet Thursday evening in response to a decision by British labor unions to support a ban on importing Israeli goods that are produced in "illegal settlements."
The boycott, approved at the annual conference of the Trades Union Congress, also calls for an end to arms trading with Israel and disinvestment from some companies. It was reportedly initiated in response to Israel's military offensive in Gaza.
"The UK will continue to speak out against boycotts proposed by trade unions or otherwise," Mandelson said.
"The UK will continue to foster UK-Israel relations, we deeply value this relationship. However, the UK is also clear on settlements being illegal and an obstacle to peace".
The ban on some Israeli products was proposed by the British Fire Brigades Union, prompting Israeli firefighters to consider sanctions of their own.
"We are scheduled to host the next International Fire Fighters Unions Alliance (IFFUA) conference. If the British (firefighters) are focusing on politics instead of on rescuing lives, we will inform them that they cannot attend," said Yoav Gadasi, chairman of the National Firefighters' Organization.
Gadasi said the National Firefighters' Organization would consider splitting from the international group over the boycott call.
"Politics were not even discussed during the previous IFFUA conference in Vancouver last April," Gadasi told Ynet. "What do firefighters have to do with politics? We don’t even ban goods that originate in Jenin or Gaza," he said.
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