“That the Parliament agrees with the recognition of the State of Palestine and that peace in the region must be pursued by all. ” – The Scottish Parliament.
On 3 September Scotland’s MSPs voted for this declaration of support for the State of Palestine and of the pursuit of Peace. It was not agreed to by all MSPs. Orkney’s Constituency MSP Liam McArthur, along with his LibDem colleagues, all the Labour MSPs, 1 Independent and 1 Conservative, abstained. The rest of the Conservatives voted against. It was passed by the combined votes of the SNP and the Scottish Greens.
The Scottish Government has halted new payments of public money to defence companies with business linked to the Apartheid State of Israel. The flag of Palestine was raised in front of Scottish Government buildings at St Andrew’s House and Victoria Quay.
The full text of the motion was as follows:
That the Parliament agrees with the recognition of the State of Palestine and that peace in the region must be pursued by all; welcomes the actions taken by the UK Government to respect the jurisdiction and independence of the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, restore funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, restrict arms sales licences to prevent breaches of international law, issue sanctions on Israeli ministers and settlers in the West Bank and commit to recognising a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly; calls on the Scottish Government to update the Parliament on the due diligence checks carried out by Scottish Enterprise during investment decision processes to ensure that defence products are not used in breaches of humanitarian law in Gaza or elsewhere; considers that there must be an immediate ceasefire, with delivery of humanitarian aid and food into Gaza, the release of all the hostages and a pathway to a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine, secured by a two-state solution, and calls on the Scottish and UK governments to immediately impose a package of boycotts, divestment and sanctions targeted at the State of Israel and at companies complicit in its military operations and its occupation of Palestine.
Demonstrations from citizens in Scotland appalled at the actions of Israel in Gaza playing out in real time across social media, have increased.
Addressing MSPs in the Scottish Parliament at the start of the debate, First Minister, John Swinney said:
“The scale of suffering is unimaginable. Nobody can ignore it. “
“We must confront this crisis with urgency, compassion and an unwavering commitment to accountability. I know that colleagues across this Parliament share my horror at what is unfolding in Gaza.”
Conservative, LibDem, and Labour MSPs, however, were not horrified enough by the genocide taking place in Gaza, to agree with the words in the Motion.
At the Venice Film Festival, ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’, a film which covers the true story of a little girl who was shot to death with family members in their car while she pleaded for help over the phone, had a 23 minute ovation.
Original recordings were used of Hind Rajab pleading with Palestinian rescue workers to come get her when the car she was in was riddled with Israeli bullets. Two ambulance workers who went to her aid when the Israelis gave them permission to do so were also killed.
In supporting the People of Palestine, The Scottish Government has also committed funding of £400,000 to establish the Gaza HOPES Field Readiness Hub in Scotland, and £600,000 to the UNOCHA led Humanitarian Fund for the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
John Swinney said:
“We have also committed to providing medical support for up to 20 injured children from Gaza and expect the first arrivals along with their families in mid-September.
“We are witnessing a humanitarian disaster of historic proportions. And yet, the bombs continue to fall.”
And he continued:
“Acknowledging that we are witnessing the signs of genocide brings with it a responsibility to act. The people of Scotland expect no less of us. Scotland will always raise her voice in favour of peace and humanity.”
Scotland will also be looking for ways within the legal establishment, universities and civil society to contribute to gathering and preserving evidence that may be used in international criminal cases.
The debate on Palestine can be watched here:
Fiona Grahame
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