HUMZA Yousaf has said that he will confront Michael Gove over the “grotesque” comments in which he said the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) should be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The former Scottish first minister and ex-Tory minister will be sharing the floor at an event organised by the John Smith Centre at the University of Glasgow tomorrow (Tuesday).
Titled “Surviving Politics: Humza Yousaf MSP and Michael Gove in Conversation”, the event is billed as a talk between two leading political figures about Brexit, independence, UK-Scottish relations and Covid.
But Yousaf has told The National that he will also confront Gove about his controversial IDF comments from earlier this month.
In a column for the Jewish Chronicle on January 8, Gove said “maybe it’s time” for then US president Joe Biden and his secretary of state Antony Blinken to “make amends” with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu before they leave office.
He added: “Words are all very well, but what about something more tangible? Why not nominate the men and women of the IDF for the Nobel Peace Prize?”
He then suggested that Israel – who killed more than 47,000 Palestinians during its brutal war on Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry – had “demonstrated the sort of strength that is the only path to enduring peace”.
Yousaf said the comments were “grotesque”, adding that he thought about pulling out of the event at first.
“The reason why I decided to go ahead with the event was for two reasons,” he said.
“Firstly, because I intend to put it to Michael Gove directly to his face just how grotesque I think that headline was.
“I've got family members, Nadia's family who've not just been made refugees by the IDF, but some of our extended family that have been killed by the IDF.
“To say that the IDF should then have a Nobel Peace Prize, as I say in my view, it's grotesque.”
“So doing the event gives me the opportunity to say that to his face.”
Yousaf then added that he though pulling out of the event would also end up being “twisted” by those who “claim to be the proponents of free speech”.
“I've actually never been a huge fan of no platforming people. I've always thought that you're much better to take on their arguments," he said.
"And I would suggest to Michael Gove or, indeed, the John Smith Centre, if they ever wanted to do a debate on the issue of Israel and Gaza and wanted me and Michael on opposing sides, I'd certainly be up for that.”
