RECENT political portends would clearly suggest that the UK is heading for a Labour government at the next General Election and it is somewhat disconcerting to read that the current crisis in the Middle East has revealed the party and its leaders to be just as unprincipled and lacking in moral courage as the current government when it comes to pursuing an ethical or altruistic foreign policy.
Everyone with even a semblance of a sense of morality agrees that the actions of Hamas were horrendous and must be condemned without reservation. However, the idea and practice of a collective punishment of the Palestinian people that breaks international law should also be utterly and unequivocally condemned by Western leaders like President Biden, Prime Minister Sunak and by the leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, yet until now we have only heard obfuscation and temporising from these quarters.
READ MORE: Six more Labour officials in Edinburgh step down over party's Gaza stance
Instead, Starmer and the branch of his party in Scotland have sought to deny debate and discussion of the the Palestinians’ plight in his attempt to focus on the “Israel has the right to defend itself” mantra regardless of the war and humanitarian crimes that the Israeli government continue to commit.
Let’s be clear, the current Israeli government is one of the most reactionary in its short history and has been responsible for ignoring international law and human rights on a serial basis. Its apartheid policies have increasingly penalised the Palestinian people as a whole and its draconian imposition of new settlements on Palestinian lands has attracted criticism not only from international observers but from human rights groups within Israel itself. Gaza is infamously known as the largest open-air prison camp on earth, and members of the hawkish Israeli government regard the people who reside there with contemptuous arrogance and as an inconvenience to Israeli expansionist policies in the region. Some have referred to them as “animals” and “sub humans” over the last few weeks.
In short, the history of the Palestinian people since 1948 has been one of persecution and ostracisation. The bombing and shelling being visited on them now appears to be a prelude to ethnic cleansing or even attempted genocide.
READ MORE: Labour figures speak out as Keir Starmer 'steamrolls' democracy
Yet, shamefully, Starmer, adopting his usual “charisma bypass” persona, cannot find it within himself to denounce the flagrantly inhumane actions of the Israeli government.
There is an expectation that Tories will follow the American line in foreign policy regardless of how morally debased that might, be but Wilson with Vietnam and Blair with Iraq, to name but two Labour Prime Ministers, demonstrate to us that Labour are just as pusillanimous and lacking in what Robin Cook termed an ethical foreign policy as most Conservative governments.
Members of Scottish Labour have some soul-searching to do. Do they toe the party line on this matter of human rights and disregard Israeli government tyranny, like Anas Sarwar, their obsequious and self-serving leader, or do they choose to, at the very least, discuss and debate the salient issues raised from this Middle Eastern crisis within a democratic forum?
Members of the Dail in independent Ireland have had long and heated debates about the current tragedy taking place in Israel and Palestine. They have been free to express their views and opinions on the situation without party constraint. I firmly believe an independent Scotland would enjoy the same democratic right to do this also. It’s time Scottish Labour members recognised what their humanitarian priorities are and act accordingly in the immediate future.
Owen Kelly
Stirling
“I NEVER said that,” says Starmer, in response to claims he suggested Israel had “the right” to withhold energy and water from Gaza. Yep, you did, mate! And what’s more you sent out Thornberry and Lammy to double down on it.
“I’ve been saying for over a week...” Yes, yes you have, mate, but the conflict started several days before that and the view you expressed at the beginning left no room for nuance or misunderstanding.
READ MORE: In pictures: Thousands gather for pro-Palestine demonstration in Glasgow
No matter what he says, Starmer doesn’t do honesty. He is driven by his own personal ambition to be PM. This “placeholder” (until England puts the Tories back in) will flip on every statement or assurance and lie and deny if it gets him closer No 10. He’s apparently the best the UK can hope for. Please, Humza, get me out of here!
I Easton
Glasgow
THE Unionist Labour Party does not need one seat or even a single vote in Scotland if they can win in England. They will sell Scotland out again to get the votes they need in England to win a General Election.
Ni Holmes
St Andrews
FOLLOWING Joanna Cherry’s excellent article on the developing tragedy in Gaza (Oct 21), I look forward to my party tabling the emergency motion passed unanimously at the SNP conference for consideration by all parliamentarians in Holyrood.
Bill Ramsay
Convener, SNP Trade Union Group
THE Tories say the SNP are commies if they want food price rises halted. I’d rather be a commie who wanted people to eat than a Tory who does not care either way.
M Ross
Aviemore
LISTENING to the radio on Friday I heard the newsreader say “Rishi Sunak is in Egypt”, I laughed out loud as I could have sworn she said “Rishi Sunak’s an eejit”. It brightened up washing the dishes. It would be more appropriate if she had just said “the eejit’s in Egypt”, this beacon of fairness who apparently speaks for us all, stating everyone is supporting one side in the latest Middle East conflict.
Iain K
Dunoon
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