Hawzah News Agency – A coalition of UK Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Tuesday urged the government to halt a legislation that would likely target boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) efforts against Israel.

The 46 UK-based groups said in a statement that they oppose plans by the government to table an “anti-boycott” bill, saying it presents a "threat to freedom of expression, and the ability of public bodies and democratic institutions to spend, invest and trade ethically in line with international law and human rights".

The groups opposing the legislation include charities, NGOs, trade unions, faith groups, climate justice and human rights groups, and cultural and solidarity organizations, such as Campaign Against Arms Trade, Greenpeace UK, the National Union of Students, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Jews for Justice for Palestinians, the Methodist Church in Britain, Unite the Union and the National Union of Students.

The proposed law would prohibit public bodies from imposing boycotts or divestment campaigns against foreign countries, including those who boycott, divest or sanction Israel.

The legislation is expected to be announced in the upcoming Queen's Speech on May 10, a yearly address by the British monarch that sets out the government's agenda for the next session of Parliament.

“We advocate for the right of public bodies to decide not to purchase or procure from, or invest in companies involved in human rights abuse, abuse of workers' rights, destruction of our planet, or any other harmful or illegal acts," the groups said in the joint statement.

“We therefore oppose the government's proposed law to stop public bodies from taking such actions.”

The statement added that the government has indicated any new law would seek to force public bodies to stick to British foreign policy when making decisions on investments and purchasing and procurement issues, especially regarding Palestine and Israel.

“We are concerned that this would prevent public bodies from deciding not to invest in or procure from companies complicit in the violation of the rights of the Palestinian people,” it read.

“We affirm that it is the right of public bodies to do so, and in fact a responsibility to break ties with companies contributing to abuses of rights and violations of international law in occupied Palestine and anywhere else where such acts occur,” it added.

The signatories recalled effective boycott campaigns throughout history “to put economic, cultural, or political pressure on a regime, institution, or company to force it to change abusive, discriminatory, or illegal policies”, while warning that if the bill is passed, “this law will stifle a wide range of campaigns concerned with the arms trade, climate justice, human rights, international law, and international solidarity with oppressed peoples struggling for justice.”

“The proposed law presents a threat to freedom of expression, and the ability of public bodies and democratic institutions to spend, invest and trade ethically in line with international law and human rights.”

They called on the UK government to immediately halt this bill, on opposition parties to oppose it and on CSOs to mobilize in support of the right to boycott in the cause of justice.