Israel Matzav: More anti-Israel bias at the Guardian

More anti-Israel bias at the Guardian

CiF Watch, which keeps an eye out for the doings at the Guardian's popular online soapbox Comment is Free, writes today about an op-ed that discusses the recent decision by Britain's Trade Unions Council (TUC) to boycott certain Israeli and non-Israeli companies that deal with Israelis in Judea and Samaria.

At the end of an excellent post, they relate this interesting story:

The truth is that trade union members of Unite, Unison, the Fire Brigade Union and the GMB – some of the unions whose executives were pushing for action against Israel – were never consulted about the matter. The one occasion when a union was forced to consult its members resulted in overwhelming opposition to a boycott (the Association of University Teachers in 2005, voting on an academic boycott).

In the matter of Israel, the UK trade unions have been hijacked by the hard Left. Since the collapse of communism, the hard Left has been bereft of a cause. In addition it is facing the prospect of a long period of Labour in opposition. Israel – more precisely the false analogy of Israel with apartheid South Africa – gives it a cause.

PS: My comment welcoming the article and pointing out that no union has balloted its members was deleted without trace. But this comment remains – with 62 recommends, so far:

lalibella

23 Sep 09, 2:12pm

I support whatever action British trade unions can take to oppose the racist, apartheid policies of this disgraceful Israeli government

Nothing like providing an open forum for discussion, is there?

Read the whole thing.

By the way, for those of you in the US who don't understand the voting thing, in Britain, like in Israel, unions can call strikes without the approval of the union members, and the union members are obligated to go along. Very democratic, isn't it?

Israel Matzav: More anti-Israel bias at the Guardian