MARRICKVILLE COUNCIL'S controversial boycott of Israel is on the verge of collapse after a Greens councillor withdrew his support yesterday. Any boycott will now rely on the support of Labor, which is in doubt.

As the Foreign Affairs Minister, Kevin Rudd, joined a growing response of condemnation and the Premier, Barry O'Farrell, threatened to sack the council, the Greens councillor Max Phillips confirmed he would vote against putting the boycott into practice.

It also emerged that the Greens mayor, Fiona Byrne, had received death threats. The NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge said Cr Byrne had received the threats and the council's stance on Israel had shown courage.

Mr Phillips said that although he supported Palestinian human rights he did not think the boycott was the way to go. ''I had unease initially about the [boycott] when first moved in December, and this unease has grown in listening to the local community,'' he said.

''I will not be voting for any kind of boycott at the meeting on Tuesday night. This issue must be put to rest.''