THE Scottish Government has been urged to take "immediate action" to end public contracts for companies with links to Israel.
This week, The National revealed that the NHS has an ongoing contract with a firm whose parent company was linked to Israeli settlements, worth an estimated worth of £21.2 million.
It also emerged that that CAF, a rail company profiting from Palestinian "exploitation", was shortlisted to build trains for ScotRail's new suburban fleet.
Speaking at First Minister's Questions on Thursday, Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay said: "Last week, this Parliament backed a Green motion declaring that a company’s involvement in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories constitutes grave professional misconduct.
"It should automatically disqualify that company, and any parent or subsidiary, from public contracts or Scottish Government support."
She said the ScotRail and NHS contracts were not isolated cases and then criticised the Scottish Government's collaboration with Barclays Bank, which is a bond scheme partner, but was found to have provided billions in loans to weapons companies used against Palestinians.
Mackay continued: "It is difficult to take your government’s position seriously when Ministers have named Barclays as a partner in its upcoming bond scheme.
“Research by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign says Barclays holds more than £2 billion in shares and provides more than £6.1bn in loans and underwriting to nine companies whose weapons and technology are being used by the Israeli military against Palestinians.
“If a company is so directly linked to the financing of arms companies supplying the Israeli military, then surely it should be covered by any boycott worthy of the name?"
Responding to Mackay's questions on the shortlisted ScotRail contract, Swinney said Scottish Rail Holding Ltd, who were overseeing the procurement, was now "seeking further advice" and expected ministers to be provided an update when received.
On the NHS contract, the First Minister said the Public Service Delivery, Scotland's national procurement directorate, "would satisfy themselves of compliance with all requirements."
However, replying to Mackay's questioning on Barclays, the First Minister said the Scottish Government's policy direction "must be substantiated and founded on a legal basis for action."
Later, Swinney was questioned by Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay who called on the First Minister to welcome such investment in Scotland.
Swinney said: "I welcome the Barclays investment in Scotland."
