Alistair Carmichael, LibDem MP for Orkney and Shetland confirmed his support for the work of the relief agency UNRWA in delivering humanitarian aid in Gaza, The West Bank and across the region. His remarks were made at a meeting with his Orkney constituents who have been holding a peace vigil every Saturday in Kirkwall since October 2023.
The meeting covered a range of issues from arms sales to the recent election of Donald Trump to the Presidency of the United States, with the audience being able to put their questions to Alistair Carmichael.
Asked about the situation with UNRWA after the Israeli Knesset passed bills banning the United Nations relief organisation from operating in areas under Israel’s control, Mr Carmichael said that the delivery of aid in Palestine cannot be done without them. “It needs recognised and supported again” stated the MP.
Orkney Friends of Palestine are supporters of the work being done in Shu’fat Refugee Camp with some islanders having visited and worked there. UNRWA does invaluable work in Shu’fat which includes ensuring Palestinian children can attend school. Mr Carmichael stated that the impact on these vulnerable children by preventing the work of UNRWA will be significant. He added that all the other charities working across the region say they really need UNRWA and “that’s why the Israel position on it is so egregious. It’s a way of putting up a barrier at the border without putting up a barrier.”
Questioned on whether the election of Donald Trump will make a difference and if the Trump administration decides to fully back Israel would the UK gov stand up to him and speak out, Mr Carmichael was asked “Would you stand up to it personally?” Alistair Carmichael did not give a direct answer but spoke tangentially on the UK needing to have closer links with Europe rather than with the USA.
He was also cautious about using the term ‘genocide’ to describe the current slaughter in Gaza and the obliteration of both the people and their culture. Mr Carmichael said he had to be careful how he words what he says in case it is picked up wrongly and that he becomes the story rather than the issue. Instead he referred to the characteristics of genocide as listed by Human Rights Watch. He said:
“Everything I say is subject to minute scrutiny and I don’t think it helps anyone in Palestine if I’m the story.”
Pressed on why most British MPs and politicians have no problem taking a strong moral stance on Russia and Ukraine – why are there double standards? Mr Carmichael admitted that there are double standards and reaffirmed his support for Ukraine and its invasion by Russia.
Quizzed about the situation in Israel and the government of Benjamin Netanyahu losing popularity, who can the UK government be speaking to in other Israeli parties. Mr Carmichael, who has visited the region several times, said that there was substantial division within Israel itself. “There will be a day of reckoning for Netanyahu government,” he added and that there are Israeli groups who are not aligned with Netanyahu and his policies, currently working for and with Palestinians.
Alistair Carmichael had started the meeting saying that since he had last met with islanders on this issue a lot had change but none of it for the better. There were, however, actions he would be taking after this meeting: The Early Day Motion recognising the Orkney vigils; looking into what the UK are buying in arms from Israel; picking up the issue of Palestinian families who require UK visas; and considering the Early Day Motion 221 ‘UN’s resolution on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine and sanctions’, tabled on 08 October 2024, by Independent MP Richard Burgon.
That this House welcomes the UN General Assembly’s decision to overwhelmingly adopt a resolution on 18 September calling for Israel to rapidly end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT); further welcomes that the UN resolution calls on states to comply with their obligations under international law and to take concrete steps to address Israel’s unlawful presence in the OPT; notes this includes calling on states not to act in ways that provide aid or assistance that help maintain Israel’s illegal presence in the OPT, to cease importing products originating from Israeli settlements, to halt arms transfers to Israel where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they may be used in the OPT, to implement sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes against those involved in maintaining Israel’s unlawful presence in the OPT, and to take steps to prevent all other trade that aids or assists the illegal occupation; further notes the UN General Assembly’s resolution follows an International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion that Israel’s decades-long occupation violates international law and which calls on states not to act in ways that maintain this unlawful situation; believes the adoption of this resolution places new obligations on the Government; and calls on the Government to act in support of the UN resolution and ICJ opinion including by ending all military exports to Israel, banning the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements and revoking the 2030 Roadmap which deepens UK economic, trade and security ties with Israel. EDM 221
The meeting was attended by about 30 people, upstairs in Kirkwall Town Hall on Saturday 16th November. Alistair Carmichael told those gathered that he would like to put forward and Early Day Motion in the House of Commons Recognizing the weekly vigils being held in Orkney. The vigils take place every Saturday between 1 and 2pm on the Kirk Green outside St Magnus Cathedral. Vigils have also been held in Shetland.
Fiona Grahame (with thanks to Hazel Pinner, and to Mike Robertson for the images)
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