The Trade Union Congress 2022 is the latest body to oppose Liz Truss’ plans to relocate the UK Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It has passed a motion in “full opposition” to the proposal, adding that such a move would “have disastrous implications for the rights of Palestinians.”
This follows on from widespread condemnation of the plans from opposition parties, legal experts including previous UN Special Rapporteur Michael Lynk, former Conservative leader William Hague, and the Archbishops of Canterbury and Westminster.
The motion not only calls on Truss to abandon her plans, but also commits the TUC to ask leaders of opposition parties to confirm that they would reverse the move should they be elected into government.
The TUC also issued a statement during its 2022 conference that follows similar motions passed in 2020 and 2021, reaffirming its acknowledgement of Israel’s practice of the crime of apartheid and reiterating its “ongoing solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom and equality.”
The statement furthermore commits the TUC to “oppose fully any UK legislation aimed at preventing legitimate democratic solidarity actions in support of the Palestinian people,” referencing the Government’s ‘anti boycott bill’ announced in the 2022 Queen’s Speech policy proposals. 13 trade unions representing millions of British workers are amongst the over 60 civil society groups who have signed a statement opposing the anti-BDS bill.
The TUC vote comes in the wake of the announcement this week that Australia has reversed a decision made four years ago to recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, further emphasising the isolation of the UK government in proposing to consider an embassy relocation.