Proposed legislation seen as targeting supporters of boycotting Israel Palestine Solidarity Campaign calls Welsh decision ‘principled,’ says opposition to bill growing LONDON: The Welsh government has joined Scotland’s in opposing proposed legislation in Westminster called the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, described by opponents as the “anti-boycott bill.” The proposed legislation has been criticized as an attack on free speech, especially on those who wish to boycott Israel over its oppression of the Palestinians. It has also been described as undermining the power of devolved UK authorities. Welsh Minister for Finance and Local Government Rebecca Evans told the Senedd (parliament): “I cannot recommend consent is given whilst questions remain as to the compatibility of this bill with convention rights and international law. “In addition, I note that there has been widespread criticism of this bill from amongst the legal and academic community, in relation to the way it has been drafted and how it is intended to operate in practice. I share those concerns.” Earlier this month, the Trades Union Congress, which represents the majority of trade unions in England and Wales, passed a motion opposing the bill during its annual meeting. Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said in a statement: “This principled decision by the Welsh government is the latest blow to this pernicious bill. The Welsh government has rightly identified the incompatibility of the ‘anti-boycott bill’ with conventions of rights and international law. “This decision will add further weight to the growing opposition to this bill — in the UK Parliament, Scottish government, across civil society and amongst the general public. “We urge all of those who recognise the threat the anti-boycott bill poses to democratic freedoms to ramp up the pressure on MPs to ensure it is defeated when it goes back to Parliament for its next reading.”