Plaid Cymru Calls for Israel Boycott at Conference

During its recent conference, Plaid Cymru, the Welsh nationalist party, faced backlash from the South Wales Jewish Representative Council (SWJRC) for calling for a boycott of Israel, coinciding with Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The SWJRC accused the party of justifying the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2022, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages, 97 of whom remain unaccounted for. The party's motion described Israel as an 'apartheid state' and called for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador, a ban on military sales, and an economic and cultural boycott of Israel. Plaid Cymru's leader Rhun ap Iorwerth expressed a nuanced stance, acknowledging the violence from both sides but refraining from endorsing the boycott outright. The conference also featured Palestinian envoy Husam Zomlot, who urged the UK to demand Israel respect international law and pursue a ceasefire. This political discourse highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its impact on Welsh politics.