THE Scottish Government has been urged to end all funding for companies arming and supporting Israeli forces.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie called for all governments to support de-escalation in the face of a full-scale regional war, and an end to UK “complicity”.
Despite repeatedly speaking out in favour of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the Scottish Government has continued to hand public money to arms companies supplying Israel and profiting from the destruction.
Earlier this year, it was reported Raytheon, BAE Systems, and Leonardo had all received taxpayer-funded grants from Scottish Enterprise since Israel began its assault on Palestine after the Hamas attacks on October 7.
BAE was paid its grant – worth £360,000 – on April 4, just a day after then-first minister Humza Yousaf wrote to the UK Government calling for arms sales to be stopped.
READ MORE: FMQs: Tory MSPs fume as John Swinney brings up Liz Truss support
The company helps make the F-35 fighter jet which Israel has used to bomb Gaza.
Harvie said in his question to John Swinney: “The world’s failure to address Israel's impunity, to protect civilians or to prevent war crimes has made escalation of violence in the Middle East inevitable.
“Through devolved funding decisions the Scottish Government does have a role here.
“There have been far too many deaths. The brutal killings on October 7, genocide inflicted on the people of Gaza and the bombardment and invasion of Lebanon, and now the world faces the imminent threat of full scale regional war.
“We need an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and de-escalation in the wider region, but the Prime Minister continues to provide arms and political support to Israel regardless of the consequences.
“Remembering that there are devolved funding decisions involved here, what is the First Minister's response to the crisis, and will he join us in calling for de-escalation and for the UK government to end its complicity in war crimes being inflicted on Palestinians and others?”
The First Minister responded by calling for a ceasefire, before Harvie asked whether he would send a “clear signal” and “immediately ban” these companies from receiving grants and support.
Harvie went on: “Tens of thousands of people have been killed and yet companies that are arming Israel have received hundreds of thousands of pounds from Scottish Enterprise.
“The First Minister repeatedly defends this by saying his Government doesn’t fund the manufacture of munitions, but this is not the point - the Government is funding the companies that profit from these atrocities."
Swinney said while he would keep the matter under review, the Government had to act “within the law”.
READ MORE: UK hands over last African colony after years of dispute
He said: “What I said back on May 30, 2024, was that, and I quote from the official record, ‘we have to have a legal basis for saying, for matters that are not related to the Israel-Gaza conflict, that we are not providing a grant’.
“That is the key legal test that the government has got to satisfy. This government has got to act within the law and it will act under the law under my leadership.
“I don’t in any way dismiss the points Patrick Harvie puts to me, but I simply say I have to act within the law.
“I will keep this under review, as to whether there are any actions we can take which will properly address our legal responsibilities but also address the moral and ethical issues Patrick Harvie puts to me.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here