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Transmitted 27 March 2014. Posted 16 April 2014. Updated 29 May 2022.

On 27 March 2014 the second half of the Islam Channel's "Analysis" programme was devoted to a discussion about boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) moves against Israel. It was sparked by Kings College London Students Union passing a motion to boycott Israel.

The programme was chaired by Amjad Saleem and in this half the panel comprised:

• Hilary Aked, a journalist and doctoral student at the University of Bath.
• Ihtesham Malik Afzal, President, Kings College London Action Palestine.
• Paul Usiskin, Political Commentator.
• Me, appearing as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Muslim Forum.

Some of the points I made during the programme are listed below:

• During the programme I emphasised the need to distinguish clearly between Israel (a country with which the UK has friendly relations) and Israel's West Bank settlements which the UK regards as illegal. That is clearly set out in paragraph 9 of the document Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Technical advice: labelling of produce grown in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
• While I regard BDS against Israel as inappropriate, I would not buy goods from Israel's West Bank settlements.
• Furthermore, would any academic boycott of Israel also be directed against Israeli academics who are Arabs?
• While Arabs in Israel do face discrimination, there are non-governmental organisations such as the New Israel Fund and the Abraham Fund Initiatives which are working hard to counter and eliminate such discrimination.

You can watch the full 22 minute discussion below. [Unfortunately, since this page was created, the video has changed status and can no longer be watched. I have left the page up in case it becomes available again in future.]