A motion calling on the National Union of Students to boycott Israeli goods was rejected on Tuesday by its National Executive Council, who warned it could lead to a “BDS agenda”.

Members of the council voted overwhelmingly against the motion “Justice for Palestine”, which called on the union to “continue to boycott companies that benefit from the illegal occupation of the West Bank.”

It also pressed NUS “to invite a Palestinian as a guest speaker for next year’s conference and call upon the British government to demand that the siege on Gaza is lifted”.

The Union of Jewish Students said in a statement that “sensible and articulate conversations between Jewish students and the NUS National Executive Council leadership" had "resulted in this positive outcome.”

UJS’ campaigns director Maggie Suissa added: “We hope to see many more years of educated and sensitive decisions made by the NUS leadership. Boycotts, bigotry and hate have no place in this movement – not now, not ever.”