The United Kingdom’s election on December 12 resulted in a new conservative government that has already taken steps toward improving the lives of Jewish people. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the UK government has promised to prohibit local authorities from supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel, The Jerusalem Post reported. “We will stop public bodies from taking it upon themselves to boycott goods from other countries, to develop their own pseudo foreign policy against countries, which with nauseating frequency turns out to be Israel,” Johnson said following the “Queen’s Speech” in the House of Commons. The Conservative Party stated that the BDS efforts “undermine community cohesion.”
I’d bet there was a collective sigh of relief among the Jewish people when the Conservative party defeated Labour and prevented noted anti-Semite Jeremy Corbyn from taking over as prime minister. Treatment of Jewish people had shot to the top of election news leading up the elections. Corbyn’s loss was encouraging in itself, but for Prime Minister Johnson to call out anti-Semitic BDS efforts for what they are was an impressive move.
I think Johnson hit the nail on the head when he referred to BDS’s policy against Israel as “nauseating.” It’s disgusting how acceptable it’s become to hide behind the lie that BDS is anything besides a clear, unjustifiable threat to Israel. Battling this evil looks to be at the top of the UK government’s to-do list, a good sign for a world power in a continent that has seen its Jewish population suffer persecution in recent times.
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