In response to the news that Britain is set to continue active trade talks with Israel, the TUC wrote to Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch on March 18 demanding that the government must stop these talks in order to support peace in the Middle East. The government had concluded the latest round of talks at the end of February.

The TUC which has a longstanding policy on Palestinian rights said that trade negotiations must be used to ensure respect for human rights and international law. The letter points out: "Since the UK launched trade talks on an updated trade agreement with Israel in March 2022, the TUC has consistently stated it does not believe the government should engage in these negotiations, given Israel's persistent violation of international law, UN resolutions and systematic violations of Palestinian labour and human rights."

In light of the Israeli government's military operations in Gaza in recent months where these violations have intensified, the TUC calls on the government to:

• End trade talks with Israel
• End arms sales and military collaboration
• End UK trade in goods from the Occupied Palestinian Territories

The TUC letter emphasises: "We are deeply concerned that reportedly more than 31,000 Palestinians, mainly women and children, have been killed in operations launched by Israeli forces since 7 October."

In February, the TUC had written to the Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, calling for an immediate ceasefire accompanied by a political process. It had expressed disappointment at the time that the British government had so far failed to support such a ceasefire.

Link to Full Issue of Workers' Weekly

RCPB(ML) Home Page

Workers' Weekly Online Archive