Israel\u2019s Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan is in London this week meeting British officials hoping to agree on a joint plan to tackle Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activism in the UK.<\/p>\n
The Likud politician has recently been made responsible for a new task force launched to tackle the movement, which calls for the boycott of Israeli goods in protest against the illegal settlement of Palestinian land.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat Britain is the world center of the anti-Israel BDS campaign,\u201d<\/em> Erdan claimed ahead of his visit.<\/p>\n BDS supporters \u201cwould have no rest\u201d<\/em> under his watch and should \u201cpay the price\u201d<\/em> for their actions.<\/p>\n In February, a new law brought in by the Tory government banned public bodies from supporting BDS initiatives, arguing that the actions undermined \u201ccommunity cohesion\u201d<\/em> and \u201cBritain\u2019s economic and international security.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The policy was enforced on local authorities without a parliamentary vote.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going [to Britain] to battle the boycott and delegitimization in every arena, and to discuss with members of the British government \u2013 which is also committed to fighting boycotts \u2013 ways to strengthen our cooperation against the anti-Semitic boycott campaign,\u201d<\/em> Erdan told the Jerusalem Post.<\/p>\n \u201cI will meet with government officials and law enforcement in order to form a front of democratic countries against the worldwide threat, which includes targeted action against incitement on the Internet.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n His talks with Communities and Local Government Minister Sajid Javid were condemned by the BDS movement and pro-Palestinian campaigners.<\/p>\n \u201cMr Erdan\u2019s visit to London raises some serious questions about the UK\u2019s relationship with Israel and its complicity in Israel\u2019s violations of Palestinian rights and international law,\u201d<\/em> War on Want senior militarism and security campaigner Ryvka Barnard said.<\/p>\n \u201cErdan\u2019s sinister talk of human rights defenders having to \u2018pay the price\u2019 for their actions is a dangerous incitement to violence. The UK government has a serious case to answer when it rolls out the red carpet to someone whose threatening behaviour is endangering the lives of human rights defenders.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n