The Australian city of Sydney has approved a motion to boycott companies operating in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The decision has been welcomed by the BDS movement in Australia, while British lawmakers are calling for a ban on the import of goods from Israeli settlements.
On Monday, the city of Sydney approved a motion to implement a boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) measure against companies operating in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, The Jerusalem Post reported, citing local councillors and Australian sources.
The “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Report on Sydney Suppliers and Investments,” which was unanimously recommended by the Corporate, Finance, Property, and Tenders Committee, received the support of all but one councillor.
The council reportedly pledged to “have no investment or contractual relationship with Israeli or non-Israeli companies operating in disputed territories listed by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council.”
The city will enforce its existing policies to “ensure that our investment and procurement practices avoid supporting socially harmful activities, including human rights abuses.”
Australia’s BDS movement welcomed the decision on social media, stating that it paves the way for local councils across the country to exclude “companies that are complicit in Israel’s illegal occupation.”
More than 60 British MPs from across political parties have signed an open letter to the UK’s foreign and trade secretaries, demanding a ban on all goods entering the country from Israeli settlements, according to the Mirror.