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New York, NY, May 12, 2017 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today strongly denounced the vote by a Norwegian trade union to adopt a full economic, cultural and academic boycott of Israel.
The Congress of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), which represents over 900,000 unionized workers in the country – more than one quarter of the adult working population – voted 193 to 117 in favor of a total boycott of the State of Israel.
“The vote for a full international boycott of Israel by the LO union not only reflects a deep bias against Israel and its active labor movement, but undermines efforts to bring Israelis and Palestinians together,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “A vote in favor of boycotts, divestment and sanctions is a vote against the very legitimacy of the Jewish state.”
The vote went against the recommendation of the union’s executive committee, which had advocated for a boycott only of products and services from settlements in the West Bank. Immediately after the vote, Norway’s Foreign Minister said the government strongly disapproved of the decision and commented on Twitter, “We need more cooperation and dialogue, not boycott.”
“We deeply appreciate and commend Foreign Minister Brende’s statement that this boycott vote is counterproductive and will do nothing to advance dialogue or improve cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians,” said Mr. Greenblatt.