British Architects Backtrack on Israel Boycott

Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
The leading association for British architects has rescinded a previous policy to suspend its Israeli counterparts from an international architects group.
On Thursday, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) concluded that a motion to suspend the Israeli Association of United Architects (IAUA) from the International Union of Architects (UIA) was “not in furtherance of the charitable objects of the RIBA” and “should not have been placed before RIBA Council.”
In March, RIBA approved a motion calling on the UIA to suspend the Israeli Association of United Architects from membership until they refused to accept projects in the West Bank.
In a news statement RIBA President Stephen Hodder said that seeking this suspension was “wrong” and that “it is a widely held view that the resolution passed in March … did not make a constructive contribution to the current situation.”
Did you know that only 2% of Forward readers donate to support our nonprofit newsroom? That 2% make it possible for millions to read the Forward without a paywall or subscription — removing any barriers to the full and fair Jewish story.
But while the Forward is free to read, it isn’t free to produce. Big stories — like deep dives into the antisemitism data, political scoops or reporting trips to college campuses — take months of research and fact-checking. All while we keep you informed of what you need to know each day.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Forward Publisher & CEO
