Councils Warned Against Boycotting Israel Trade

Councils have been warned they face "severe penalties" if they impose boycotts on trade and investment with Israel. Guidance to be published later this week will say locally imposed boycotts by public bodies are "inappropriate" unless formal legal sanctions or embargoes have been put in place by the Government. Boycotts risk breaching a World Trade Organisation agreement signed by both the EU and Israel, which requires equal treatment for suppliers from all signatories, the guidance will note.