High Court dismisses challenge over council boycotts

A challenge by a Jewish rights organisation over the legality of local council “boycotts” on Israeli goods produced on the West Bank has been dismissed by the High Court.

Jewish Human Rights Watch (JHRW) asked for a ruling that the councils, in passing the boycott resolutions, breached equality law duties and failed to have regard “to the need to eliminate discrimination and harassment of Jewish people”, or the need to foster good relations between Jewish and non-Jewish people.

Lawyers for Leicester City Council, Swansea City Council and Gwynedd Council said the case was “misconceived” and had been brought because JHRW “wants to stop local authorities debating Israel’s actions”.

In London on Tuesday, Lord Justice Simon and Mr Justice Flaux dismissed the claims, saying they failed in relation to each of the councils on an analysis of the facts and the applicable legal principles.