The Scottish Greens have called on First Minister John Swinney to introduce stronger boycott and sanctions measures against Israel in his forthcoming Programme for Government, arguing that previous commitments have not resulted in sufficient action.
Scottish Greens MSP Patrick Harvie said the programme should set out concrete steps to prevent Scottish public money from going to companies linked to Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.
“The Programme for Government must be the moment that changes,” Harvie said, according to The National. “We need clear commitments and a plan to end Scotland’s complicity in the systemic abuse of Palestinians.”
The party has repeatedly called on the Scottish government to end contracts with companies identified by the UN human rights office as being involved in settlement-related activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Greens also want Scottish local authorities to have greater freedom to support the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. They are seeking the repeal of UK legislation dating from Margaret Thatcher’s government that restricts public procurement decisions based on the geographical origin of goods or businesses.
Harvie accused the Scottish government of failing to match its public statements on Gaza and the Palestinians with substantive policy changes.
“If a company is profiting from apartheid and genocide, the Scottish Government must use every power it has to ensure it is not also profiting from public money here in Scotland,” he said.
Harvie pointed to guidance issued to Scottish businesses following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, arguing that the government had previously demonstrated its willingness to encourage the private sector to respond to international conflicts.
“The Scottish Government has already shown that it can act when it chooses to,” he said. “Palestinians deserve no less.”
He added that the Greens wanted enforceable measures rather than symbolic commitments, saying: “We cannot have a boycott in name only.”
The Scottish government defended its record, saying it had been among the first governments to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and had consistently advocated peace, justice and human rights.
A government spokesperson said ministers had taken the “most direct and effective action” available within Scotland’s devolved powers to push for a lasting resolution to the conflict and an end to Palestinian suffering.
The dispute is expected to place further pressure on Swinney to clarify his government’s approach to Israel and public procurement when he presents the upcoming Programme for Government.