Unsurprisingly this has come to the attention of the Israel lobby who are organising two events in Belfast which confirm the distorted prism through which they attack those in the trade union movement who wish to turn policies of opposition to the occupation of Palestine (and related oppression} into practical solidarity
http://www.ictu.ie/press/2008/06/18/congress-report-calls-for-israeli-boycott-campaign/
Two meetings have been organised by the Northern Ireland ‘Friends of Israel’ the pitch for which states ‘sadly trade unions and local authorities in Northern Ireland have signed up on your behalf to Boycott Israel. If the boycott of the world's only Jewish state, and the only democracy in the Middle East, concerns you then please attend either or both of these events..’
The first event has as guest speaker Eric Lee of Labourstart a strident supporter of the IDF genocidal and violent offensive in Gaza last year. The second sees a talk on anti-Semitism by academic/lawyer Anthony Julius.
Conflating support for the Palestinian people with anti-Semitism is a longstanding propaganda tactic of the Israel lobby and it has been received with outrage by the broad coalition of unions opposing Israel’s brutal continuing occupation of Palestinian territories and the blockade of Gaza. http://unisonactive.blogspot.com/2009/11/israel-lobby-british-unions.html
