Thompson Hits Israel Boycott by Brit Unions

Thompson Hits Israel Boycott by Brit Unions

By ARI PAUL

City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. Aug. 28 blasted several British unions, including the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), for supporting a boycott of Israeli goods.

WILLIAM C. THOMPSON: Decries boycott. Various groups have called for boycotts of products made in Israel and for institutions to divest from companies that do business in Israel to protest the country's 40-year occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Mr. Thompson sent letters to several trade-union leaders saying, "Boycotts of this nature will result merely in a failure to achieve a just and fair resolution of the Middle East conflict."

Labor Leader Applauds

Jewish Labor Committee President Stuart Appelbaum, who is also president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, praised Mr. Thompson's stance.

"I thank Comptroller Thompson for his bold words against these ill-conceived anti-Israel resolutions," Mr. Appelbaum said in a statement. "It is my hope that Comptroller Thompson's words will be followed by similar actions by others truly concerned about seeking a just and fair resolution, and peace in the Middle East."

The JLC issued a statement signed by dozens of American labor leaders opposing such boycotts and divestment campaigns. The president of the TGWU's American counterpart, James C. Little of the Transport Workers Union of America, signed the statement, but Roger Toussaint, president of TWU Local 100, has not made his stance on the issue public.

'Bring Them Together'

"Trade unionists and their organizations seeking such a just and fair resolution should be assisting those working to bring the two sides together in direct talks and then negotiations," the JLC's letter said. "In this regard, we call for increased engagement of trade unions with their counterparts on all sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We support efforts of Palestinian and Israeli trade unionists and their organizations to maintain contact and cooperative and mutually supportive activities, even in the midst of tumult and political change within their respective communities and polities."

Mr. Thompson was pleased to see American unions signing the JLC's statement.

"The Comptroller is concerned about any issues that affect trade and the economy," a spokesman for Mr. Thompson said in an email. "In this instance, as he indicates in his letter, he is concerned that 'antagonism or retaliation' are being employed whereas constructive dialogue would be a more productive route."