SECRET meetings between two MSPs and an Israeli diplomat have caused a row amongst SNP party members as the rendezvous has been labelled “upsetting” and “utterly tone deaf” despite the First Minister defending them.
Angus Robertson met with Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UK, Daniela Grudsky Ekstein, which was not publicised and only came to light four days after when the diplomat posted about it on social media.
In the wake of the backlash with Robertson, SNP MSP John Mason also revealed he had met with the Israeli diplomat.
Mason, the MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, had written on Twitter/X in response to the news of the Culture Secretary's meeting, saying: “I also met her last week. Useful discussion on what Israel hopes to achieve in Gaza.”
Both meetings have been heavily criticised by the party’s members, as former SNP MP for East Dunbartonshire, Amy Callaghan, took to social media to air her disappointment.
She said: “I know I’m not the only SNP member feeling let down by the decision for a Cabinet Secretary to meet with the deputy Israeli Ambassador.
“There is a place to meet with those we disagree with, of course. But the way in which this particular meeting has been handled has left many of us feeling let down by the part we love.
“And subsequently to see a backbench MSP refer to their meeting with the same deputy Ambassador in the context of ‘what Israel hopes to achieve in Gaza’ when Israel are committing genocide, is both shocking and upsetting.”
John Swinney defended the External Affairs Secretary in a series of tweets after the encounter came to light as he said a face-to-face meeting with the diplomat was “necessary” despite the concerns of other party members.
Former SNP MSP, Sandra White (below), also heavily criticised her former colleague's decision to meet with the Israeli diplomats as she said she has disowned Mason for his actions.
White said: “We know what Israelis hope to achieve they are already committing Genocide in Gaza Talk you mention Talk whilst innocent children are being massacred.
“You make me sick John the SNP should disown you as I have.”
Another former MP, Hannah Bardell, condemned the secret discussions after the revelation that Mason also met with the diplomat.
She said: “It gets worse… Utterly tone deaf and frankly deeply offensive. We must do better.”
News of the two meetings follows the confirmation that more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war on October 7.
Robertson (above) said he had reiterated the Scottish Government’s calls for a ceasefire in Palestine when he met with the Israeli ambassador.
However, he has been heavily condemned by fellow party members who have argued the discussion should have never taken place.
