Nandy says ban is not BDS
V LABOUR’S LISA Nandy has insisted she would “never support” BDS against Israel. She met criticism this week from the Board of Deputies about her “divisive” proposal for a ban on West Bank settlement goods if annexation goes ahead.
Speaking to a virtual meeting organised by the Labour Tribune MPs group on Thursday, the shadow foreign secretary said she had listened to concern from the Board about the plan, which is backed by Sir Keir Starmer. She said her proposal dealt specifically with the settlement issue and had been welcomed by left-wingers in Israel, including a “former speaker of the Knesset”.
Ms Nandy said it was also important to note strong opposition to annexation among “Jewish communities across the globe”.
She said Labour’s proposal for a settlement goods ban “doesn’t just lay down a marker that the 1967 borders for Palestine have to be respected — they also lay down a marker that those for Israel have to be respected. So this cements the notion Israel has the right to exist and must be defended.” Ms Nandy told the meeting she was aware there were “mixed views” about BDS in Labour. But, she added, “My own view is that BDS against Israel is really problematic. I have never supported it because of the very particular circumstances in which Israel came into being and the constant attempts to undermine the right of Israel to exist. It is important not to stray into that territory.’’