It appears clearly from the emails exchange I had with MSP Stewart Maxwell regarding West Dunbartonshire Council boycott of Israeli books that Councillor Ronnie McColl, Leader of West Dunbartonshire Council, was asked by local MSP Stewart Maxwell
"to confirm that while West Dunbartonshire Council are currently imposing sanctions on Israeli goods that this ban will not extend to books, periodicals or other literature printed or published in Israel". Councillor McColl unequivocally responded; "The West Dunbartonshire Council ban on Israeli goods does not extend to printed material".
This contradicts still current council policy:
"West Dunbartonshire Council utterly refutes recent media claims that it has “launched a boycott on Israeli books.” The Council’s boycott does not in any way seek to censor or silence authors and commentators from Israel. The Council’s boycott only relates to goods “made or grown” in Israel. The vast majority of mainstream books by Israeli authors are published in the UK and are therefore not affected by this boycott. Only books that were printed in Israel and transported to the UK for distribution would be potentially boycotted".
In A shorter version: “West Dunbartonshire Council clarifies boycott stance: we’re only
banning the ‘Israeli’ books that are really Jewy!”
This reversal would appear to be as a result of publicity and objections lodged. Councillor Ronnie McColl and Co aren't serious people. They wallow in moral consensus while striking a pose of political courage, but only as long as there are zero practical consequences. They’re one step more pathetic than the self-declared activists who fantasize that their tweets and Facebook messages are acts of “solidarity” with Terrorist organisation such as Hamas labelling them “freedom fighters.”
Renaud Sarda
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