Palestinian medical union to boycott Israeli labs

The Palestinian Medical Examination Union decided Friday to stop the transfer of medical tests to Israeli labs.

"This decision comes in harmony with the decisions of the Supreme National Committee and the national movement for the peoples' boycott of Israeli goods and products," union head Osama al-Najjar said in a statement.

He added: "Based on this decision we will stop converting medical laboratory tests to Israeli laboratories and conduct them within Palestine in addition to boycotting Israeli products and goods."

 The decision came shortly after Palestinian factions decried the Israeli policy of medical negligence against Palestinians in Israeli prisons, following the death of former captive Jaafar Awad Friday morning.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Palestinian Prisoners' Society held Israel responsible as Awad passed from health complications that rapidly deteriorated while being held in Israeli prison.

The Union's efforts to boycott Israeli medical labs were discussed during a meeting held in the Union headquarters in Ramallah.

It is the most recent amid expanding efforts by Palestinians to reduce dependence on Israeli products and markets, a difficult process due to Israeli control, restrictions, and taxing of goods entering and leaving both the West Bank and Gaza Strip.