Tag: palestine

Sanctions now – until there is freedom for Palestine

By Hugh Lanning, Labour & Palestine

Today is UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People it is important to consider what a just and lasting peace would look like.

The ‘pause’ in the bombing has been widely, and wrongly, described by much of the media as a ceasefire, even though Israel is committed to continuing its war on the Palestinian people. But no pause or ceasefire, however long, will by itself bring about peace.

Israel has been at war with the idea and existence of a state of Palestine since 1948. The starting point for any peaceful solution must be the ending of Israel’s illegal military occupation and with it bringing down the Wall, ending the siege, giving the Palestinians back their land, water and gas and removing the settlers and their settlements.

Given Labour’s shameful failure to call for a ceasefire, one must be sceptical as to whether its leadership is capable of supporting a just and lasting peace or only rubber-stamping the continuation of an Israeli imposed military regime from Gaza on the Sea to Jericho on the River Jordan.

To achieve the possibility of negotiating a just and lasting solution there has to be a quantum shift in the balance of power. Sending Palestinian leaders into an imagined negotiating chamber with Israel is not just sending them in naked, but it’s with their arms and legs bound on the rack while the screws are applied to make them sign the proffered ‘agreement’.

With the armed forces of the occupier sitting on top of them, backed by the might of the Western World – the unholy trinity of the US, EU and UK – what chance do the Palestinian people have of emerging with their self-determination, rights and freedom intact?

Polls tell us that Palestine has the sympathy of the world community. The millions marching around the world for an immediate ceasefire and for freedom for Palestine show that the global population is being moved by what it is witnessing.

Some 75 years after the UN unilaterally created a nation state on Palestinian land – from then on, through the occupation in 1967, to Oslo and beyond, the world has continually failed to deliver on its promises of a Palestinian state.

To achieve this will of course require a volte face by the major parties in the UK Parliament. On the universal and uncritical support of Israel’s war on Palestine, we must be clear. This is not just a war on Gaza – it is a war on the whole Palestinian people and the notion of a Palestinian state. The West must use its considerable powers to drag Israel kicking to negotiations. Through its actions Israel has de-legitimised itself by acting outside and without reference to international law.

Today is the right day for the world to commit to ending Israel’s oppression of the Palestinian people and to impose sanctions until it finally complies. This should mean no arms trade, no military aid, no military cooperation and support. It is transparently clear how, when and where such support is used – to kill and repress in order to support its illegal occupation.

Rather than a bill by Government trying to ban boycott and disinvestment from Israel, the UK should be calling for full trade and financial sanctions until a just peace is agreed that achieves self-determination for Palestine. There is no doubt that the numbers marching on London’s streets and demonstrating up and down the country are demanding not just an immediate ceasefire, but also for Britain to acknowledge the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

On this day of solidarity, Labour must listen to those voices and heed the call of the next generation of voters for an end to the occupation and sanctions now and stop arming issue until there is a just peace for Palestine.

LABOUR MEMBERS FROM OVER 500 CLPs CALL ON STARMER TO BACK CEASEFIRE

By the Labour & Palestine Team

In a strong show of the growing pressure on Keir Starmer to back the call for a Ceasefire Now in Gaza, over 10,000 – including members of over 500 Constituency Labour Parties – have signed a petition reading “We call on the Labour Party leadership to join the growing international calls for an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Palestine.”

Commenting on the strength of support for the petition, Apsana Begum MP said, “The ongoing dehumanisation and collective punishment of Palestinians will be marked in history as a crime against humanity. It is vital that the Labour Party stand up against war crimes and be counted.”

Hugh Lanning of Labour & Palestine, who initiated the petition, said “That some 10,000 Labour members from over 500 CLPs have, signed the Labour & Palestine petition calling on the Labour leadership to back an immediate ceasefire confirms the strength of opinion at the party’s grassroots.”

He added, “Keir Starmer’s continuing refusal to make the call for a ceasefire and his threats to sack frontbench MPs who vote for one tonight is deeply shocking to members and out of step with the public, risking lasting damage to Labour support. It is time for him to listen and urgently change course.”

Welcoming the growing support for a ceasefire in the Labour Party, TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said “The Labour Party is supposed to stand on the side of the oppressed, and those backing the petition are doing just that. Instead, we have seen MPs being suspended or forced to resign shadow ministerial posts simply for supporting the cause of peace. It is not good enough.”

Young Labour Chair Nabeela Mowlana said, “The last few weeks have demonstrated the strength of feeling amongst the British public that we will not sit by as our political leaders allow atrocities to take place in Palestine. A ceasefire is the first step in a desperately needed peace process rooted in justice and liberation. The Labour leadership must do the right thing by supporting the vote for a ceasefire.”

And Mohammad Suhail, Young Labour International Officer, added “The overwhelming support this petition has received from across the Party is heartening and indicates the position members want to see Keir Starmer take. Ahead of any Commons vote on a ceasefire, we call on all Labour MPs to stand on the side of peace, and vote to call for a ceasefire.”

Long-standing Palestinian solidarity campaigner and Labour NEC member Jess Barnard said, “Keir Starmer is not just out of step with Labours membership, he is on another planet. 76% of the general public support a ceasefire, 10,000 members have now signed the Labour and Palestine petition, hundreds of councillors, regional and national labour figures have all supported the calls for an immediate ceasefire.”

Fellow NEC member Gemma Bolton joined those welcoming the strong support for the petition, saying “That over 10,000 Labour members have signed the petition shows that they, like the general public, overwhelmingly back a ceasefire. They rightly understand a ceasefire is the only way to stop the horrific scenes we have seen broadcast from Gaza – and commence the process of negotiating a just and lasting peace.”

STATEMENT: Labour Must Lead Demands for An Immediate Ceasefire

Labour & Palestine is horrified by the escalating violence in Israel and Palestine and the callous response of the UK government. We call on the Labour Party to act to help bring about an immediate ceasefire, as called for by the UN, the TUC and many others.

We are appalled by the loss of life of both Israelis and Palestinians and believe that the targeting and attacking of civilians and the imposition of collective punishments are, as is clear in international law, war crimes that must be condemned by all.

The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has said this latest outbreak of violence and slaughter of innocent civilians does not take place “in a vacuum”. The war in Gaza did not start on 7 October – it is a direct result of Israel’s illegal and brutal military occupation of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 1967.

The Israeli state has actively supported the building of illegal settlements in the West Bank, arrested and detained thousands – including hundreds of children – demolished homes and stood by while heavily armed illegal settlers viciously attacked Palestinians.

These breaches of Palestinian human rights have been well documented by the UN, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem, among others. Yet these acts of violence, intimidation and oppression have been allowed to reach a new high since the extreme right-wing administration of Benjamin Netanyahu took office last year.

The failure of the parties to the Oslo Accords, including the UK, to fulfil the promises made to the Palestinian people of an independent state, have made any route to peace increasingly difficult.

The UK government’s uncritical support for Israel’s illegal actions is completely wrong.

The Labour Party must now lead demands for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the full application of international law to apply equally to all peoples.

Labour & Palestine.

Model motion – Oppose the Tory anti-boycott bill

Below is a model motion for CLPs to consider defending our right to boycott, which has been worked on by Labour & Palestine and Palestine Solidarity Campaign supporters who are active in the Labour Party.

It is important for CLPs to keep raising this issue to put pressure on in the run-up to further debates and votes in Parliament on the Tories’ anti-democratic legislation.

CLPs can still submit motions to this year’s Annual Conference – the deadline for motions is 5pm Thursday 21 September.

Alternatively, CLPs can instead pass the motion and send to the NEC (making the necessary small amendments to the model motion text.)

MOTION: Oppose the Tory anti-boycott bill

Conference shares the concerns of a wide range of civil society organisations – including the TUC, affiliated trade unions, charities, NGOs, faith, climate justice and human rights organisations – that the government’s ‘Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill’ or anti-boycott bill will limit the ability of public authorities to make ethical choices about spending and investment consistent with human rights, climate goals and international law.

We are proud of our movement’s historic support for boycott and divestment campaigns including the campaign to end apartheid in South Africa. Legal advice commissioned by the Labour Party makes clear that had this bill been law during the 1980s, it would have forced local authorities to do business with that criminal and racist regime.

The Tories have indicated that a major reason for proposing this law is to prevent public bodies from divesting from companies operating in Israel and occupied Palestine – even if they are complicit in violating international law and human rights.

Conference believes that public bodies and democratic institutions should be able to spend, invest and trade ethically in line with international law and human rights.

Any suggestion that, alone among peoples facing oppression around the world, Palestinians should be singled out and denied the right to appeal to people of conscience for support is wrong, runs counter to Britain’s legal obligations, and must be rejected.

Conference calls on the PLP to vote against the bill and, if it is passed, commits to repealing the anti-boycott law when Labour is in government.

LABOUR FRINGE: Building solidarity & speaking up for Palestine

Liverpool ACC, Monday October 9, 5.30pm.

RSVP here // Retweet here.

With: H.E. Ambassador Husam Zomlot // John McDonnell MP // Mick Whelan, ASLEF // Beth Winter MP // Simon Dubbins, Unite // Nabeela Mowlana, Young Labour // Hugh Lanning, Labour & Palestine // Jess Barnard, LP NEC // Louise Regan, Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

Labour & Palestine at Labour Party Conference 2023. Kindly supported by Unite the Union. Please note you need a Labour Conference pass to attend this event.

Supporting Palestinian Human Rights – new model motion

Please take this model motion to your Labour Party meeting. It can also be downloaded here.

MODEL MOTION: SUPPORTING PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS

This CLP notes:

The increasing violent reality in occupied Palestine. In February 2023, Amnesty
International argued that Palestinian lives are in peril due to the increasingly
aggressive policies of the new Israeli Government.

This includes Israeli authorities constantly demolishing Palestinian homes whilst
settlements, considered illegal under international law, are aggressively expanded.

Amnesty also noted that of those who have died in the last year, 220 Palestinians,
including 35 in January 2023 alone, had been killed by Israeli forces.

The UK continues to sell weapons to Israel which are then used in human rights
violations.

The international criminal court has launched an investigation into alleged war
crimes in the Palestinian territories.

This CLP believes:

That Israel is using laws and policies to suppress opposition and resistance to its
military occupation.

That part of a genuinely ethical foreign policy for Labour must include security
justice, dignity and human rights for the Palestinian people.

International solidarity can play an important role in highlighting the plight of the
Palestinian people, including in terms of calling for an end to arms sales to Israel.

This CLP resolves:

To invite a speaker from Labour & Palestine to address a future meeting on the
current situation with regards to Palestine.

To send this motion to the Labour Party leader and Shadow Foreign Minister urging
them to speak up in support of international law and human rights for all

Eyewitness Palestine: For justice, for freedom & for the right of return – Louise Regan

Louise Regan reports on two recent solidarity delegations to Palestine.

In October and December 2022, I returned to Palestine, the first time since February 2020 due to Covid19. On both visits I was with other trade unionists, most who had not visited before and who were there to learn more about the situation, and to meet with individuals and organisations to deepen their understanding.

For Palestinians 2022 was the deadliest year since 2006. The monthly average of Palestinian fatalities increased by 57 per cent when compared with 2021. In the first half of October alone 15 Palestinians, including six children, were killed by Israeli forces during search-and-arrest operations, exchanges of fire, or in confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the West Bank including East Jerusalem.

In October we visited Nablus, a beautiful city in the West Bank. Nablus had been under curfew for several days and entry in and out was severely restricted. We have good links with the cultural centre in the camp and although there was clear evidence of clashes at the entrance to the town we made our way in with no problems. During our time in the camp it was clear that the situation was stressful for them.

As we left several armed vehicles arrived and we were questioned about the purpose of our visit. The following day four young Palestinians were killed in the camp – these were young people with hopes and dreams, young people who just wanted to enjoy their life but who are now gone forever.

Mural of murdered Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh. Photo credit: Louise Regan

We also visited Aida Refugee camp in Bethlehem. Aida is the most tear gassed place on earth. The families there live under the eye of numerous military watchtowers and regular incursions in to the camp not only firing tear gas and skunk water but also arresting young people in the middle of the night. At the edge of the camp is the Lajee centre set up in April 2000, the centre is a sanctuary for the children and young people of the camp.

They have developed an outdoor play area, football pitch, a nursery and gym and they run music, dance and creative workshops. On the roof of the centre there is a garden area with a hydroponics greenhouse where they are growing and distributing fresh herbs and vegetables.

In December we met with representatives from Addameer and DCI Palestine. Two of the human rights organisations who have been categorised as terrorist groups by the Israeli state, a political decision with no evidence or justification being presented. Both organisations, along with four others, have had their offices raided and documentation and computers stolen.

DCI Palestine advocates for child prisoners. Most Palestinian children are arrested during the night in armed raids on their home. They are blindfolded, shackled and taken in military jeeps to detention centres where they face interrogation and torture. They are tried in military courts and regularly forced to sign confessions written in Hebrew, a language they do not speak. Their crime – throwing stones – a crime for which they can face up to ten years in prison or twenty years if they hit a vehicle. Addameer advocates for political prisoners who face administrative detention, a system put in place during the British mandate, where they can be detained without charge or trial for an indefinite amount of time.

I have visited Palestine many times and I am always in awe of the people, their sumud ‘steadfastness’ and their resilience against the oppressive regime under which they live. The ongoing occupation, the human rights abuses they face on a daily basis limiting their ability to work, to access their own lands and family, to attend medical appointments or even go to school are all truly shocking and something that once you have seen you cannot un-see.

On the 2nd November 1917 British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour issued the Balfour Declaration which stated:

‘His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.’

These 67 words written over one hundred years ago led to not only the mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from their homes and land but also the ongoing occupation, control and intimidation of the Palestinian people until this day.

During the last year important reports by B’Tselem, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty have all been released calling Israel an apartheid state. During all my visits I have witnessed apartheid in action – from the restriction of Palestinians freedom of movement, the segregation and control of their daily lives to the dispossession of land and property.

Roadside checkpoint sign in Palestine. Photo credit Louise Regan

On one of my first visits to Palestine I was told that Palestine was being built out of existence. What I witnessed in October and December – the huge settlement expansion, the new settler only roads cutting through the Palestinians land and the escalating house demolitions and evictions means that the reality of this statement is coming ever nearer. 

In Sheikh Jarrah when one of our union members cried after hearing about the plight of the families there – the Palestinian father we were meeting with said “we thank you for your tears but we don’t need tears – we need voices – go back and tell people what you have seen – tell them our story as we are voiceless.”

Let us all be the voice of the Palestinians, let us all speak out until we get justice and freedom for the Palestinian people.

  • You can follow Louse Regan on twitter here.
  • Join the Palestine Solidarity campaign here; and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
  • This piece was originally published on Labour Outlook here.

Labour Must Speak up for Palestine statement – updated for UN Solidarity Day 2022

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“To be an internationalist and democratic socialist party, it is the responsibility of the Labour Party to speak up for Palestine and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their fundamental rights, including to self-determination.

Recent actions by the Israeli Government have illustrated the continuing nature of Israel’s illegal occupation and the denial of the rights of Palestinian peoples with the use of militarised violence and forced displacements. The attacks on Gaza in August 2022 killed 44 Palestinians, including 15 children, and were described by the UN Special rapporteur as an act contrary to international law. The Israeli army’s killing of the Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh; the attacks on the Al Aqsa mosque and the outlawing of 7 NGOs who spoke up for Palestinian rights being just some examples.

The seriousness of the situation facing the people of Palestine is confirmed by the fact the International Criminal Court is holding an inquiry into abuses committed in the occupied Palestinian Territories since 2014.

The continuing de facto annexation of Palestinian land by accelerated settlement building alongside statements of Israel’s continuing intention to proceed with annexation, show it is clearer than ever that the Israeli State is intent on eliminating any prospects of Palestinian self-determination, including by trying to annex Jerusalem as its sole capital.

Major reports by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem have concluded that Israel is practising the crime of apartheid as defined by the UN.

Labour must build on – not step back from – its commitments to immediate recognition of the state of Palestine and an end to the blockade, occupation and settlements as outlined in the 2017 and 2019 manifestos, and in the motions overwhelmingly passed by the Party’s annual conferences in 2018, 2019 and 2021, the last  of which stated “that the Labour Party must stand on the right side of history and abide by these resolutions in its policy, communications and political strategy.”

We must support “effective measures” including sanctions, as called for by Palestinian civil society, against actions by the Israeli state that are illegal according to international law. This must include action to ensure that Israel stops the building of settlements, reverses any annexation, ends the occupation of the West Bank, ceases the blockade of Gaza, brings down the Wall and respects the right of refugees to return to their homes under international law.

We oppose measures designed to stop civil society using non-violent actions, including ethical investment policies, to try to ensure Israel complies with international law.”