TEL AVIV: top ranking officials from Israel have voiced concern on Sunday over two initiatives in Britain to boycott Israeli universities and sanction trade with the Zionist regime because of its policies towards Palestinians.

"This is an extremely worrying issue," Trade and Industry Minister Eli Yishai said.

Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog said there was “an active Muslim minority joining forces with left-wing elements in the British public”.

Last Wednesday, Britain's University and College Union (UCU) passed a motion at its annual congress urging lecturers to "consider the moral implications of existing and proposed links with Israeli academic institutions."

Both the British and Israeli governments condemned the motion.

Under the terms of the motion the union must now circulate calls from Palestinians for a boycott of Israeli universities to all of its branches for discussion.

If passed, the boycott could include academics refusing to write for journals published by Israeli universities and prevent travel to Israel for conferences.

In April, Britain's National Union of Journalists voted in favor of a boycott of Israeli goods and demanded government and UN sanctions against Israel, a move blasted by the governments of both Britain and Israel.

In the meantime, more than 100 British doctors have called for a boycott of the Israeli Medical Association.