SPSC Aberdeen member Fiona Napier said, "We are in a time of great political upheaval in Scotland – how do we ensure Palestinian rights stay high on the agenda, and how do we build on our successes? And how do we counter Israel's ever more aggressive efforts to counter BDS?
"The
Scotsman recently revealed that Hillary Clinton personally intervened in 2009
after filmmaker Ken Loach joined forces with SPSC to successfully pressure the
Edinburgh International Film Festival to sever its links with the Israeli
state. Anyone who thinks that each small BDS success goes unnoticed and makes
no difference should take heart from that revelation - BDS is having an
impact, in Scotland and worldwide!
"The
Scottish Government has supported an arms embargo against Israel since the 2014
Gaza massacre (calls that have gone unheeded by the UK government which has now
ended all restrictions on licensing arms sales).
"The STUC and four Scottish
councils have a policy of boycott of Israel until it concedes Palestinian human
rights.
"But we need to push further. Arms factories in Scotland continue to
produce weapons components which were used in the attacks on Gaza, and continue
to be used on Palestinians. Millions of pounds are invested by Scottish local
council pension schemes in arms companies supplying the Israeli Occupation
Forces. Surveillance technology developed by NICE Systems (linked to Israel’s
military) is being used by Glasgow City Council."