THE Labour Government has a “moral and historical responsibility” to recognise the state of Palestine – and must do so now, the nation’s UK ambassador has told the Scottish Labour conference.
Speaking at a fringe event which was attended by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK Husam Zomlot also called for the Westminster government to impose a complete arms embargo on Israel.
Last September, Labour blocked 30 out of around 350 weapon export licences to Israel, saying there was a clear risk the arms would be used to breach international law. The nation is accused of perpetrating a genocide in Gaza, and is illegally occupying that region and the Palestinian West Bank.
Speaking to the Scottish Labour conference fringe event via video – unable to attend due to the deepening crisis sparked by US president Donald Trump supporting the illegal ethnic cleansing of Gaza – Zomlot said it was time to “turn words into action, starting with the recognition of the state of Palestine”.
“The UK has a moral and historical responsibility to do so,” he said.
“To end this aggression and to salvage a diplomatic horizon, my friends, the UK Government, the Labour Government of the UK, must implement a full arms embargo, and there must be sanctions on Israeli settlers and any trade with the illegal settlements.
“All the organisations that support the settlements must be sanctioned and the state that sponsors these settlements.
“It is because of decades of impunity granted to Israel that we are where we are today.
“Israel must be held accountable like all other states, and Israel's occupation must end.
“This is the time. This is the moment.
“International law must be enforced, not only merely called for. Half commitments do not reach justice or achieve justice. It has to be full commitment to international legality.
“The journey to justice, my friends, and freedom and equality is long. It's long, but we must stay the course together. The finishing line is closer than many would like you to believe.”
Previously, Labour have committed to recognising Palestine “as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution” – but declined to give a timescale on when that might happen.
Earlier in February, the SNP and senior Scottish Labour MP Patricia Ferguson called for the UK Government to recognise Palestine.
Foreign Office Minister Anneliese Dodds declined to say the Labour Government would do so.
“We must use the mechanisms we have available to us to ensure above all that we get to a two-state solution and the peace that is the right of Palestinians and Israelis,” she said.
