Two UK trade unions, the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and the Social Workers’ Union (SWU), have refused to apologize after using a Nazi-era quote to promote solidarity with Palestinians. The 1978 quote by Kurt Waldheim, former Austrian president and convicted war criminal, said: “The Palestinian people and the recognition and implementation of their rights are the key to any solution in the Middle East.”

The quote was featured in a statement marking International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. After concerns were raised by Jewish groups, the unions removed the reference to Waldheim and amended the statement. However, SWU’s General Secretary, John McGowan, did not apologize to Jewish social workers, explaining that the quote was inadvertently included from a 2023 UN article.

Waldheim, who served as Secretary-General of the United Nations, was barred from entering the United States in 1987 due to his involvement in Nazi war crimes. He was implicated in the massacre of civilians in Podgorica during World War II.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews condemned the unions for failing to recognize the problematic nature of the quote and called for a public apology. They said Jewish members of the unions were deeply concerned about the statement’s inclusion of Waldheim’s words.