Council accused of anti-Semitism after voting to boycott goods from West Bank

Leicester City Council will no longer use anything produced in the settlements for its public services “until Israel withdraws from Palestinian occupied territories”.

The motion was proposed by Labour councillor Mohammed Dawood who claimed the people of Leicester wanted to show solidarity with the Palestinians. The news was greeted with dismay and horror by the Jewish community.

Liberal Democrat Leicestershire county councillor Jeffrey Kaufman said: “I don’t see them condemning China’s actions in Tibet.

“There is a city council election round the corner and they are trying to make friends with the Muslim voters they fell out with when Labour started an illegal war in Iraq.”

A spokesman for the Board of Deputies of British Jews said Israel was “the only true functioning democracy in the Middle East”.

He added: “They would do far better to protest about the 200,000 Muslims and Christians who have died in Syria.

“Much of the IT security and other technology used by Leicester and other councils around the country – which keeps British citizens safe – originates in Israel.

“We thoroughly condemn this resolution and trust the council will come to its senses and reverse it.”

The move was opposed by Conservative and Ukip councillors. Labour’s city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby denied the motion, made last November, was anti-Semitic.

He said: “This is not in any way a question of being anti-Jewish.”

In a statement, Leicester City Council said: “Leicester is renowned for its tolerance, diversity, unity and its strong stance against all forms of discrimination.”