AN SNP branch is pushing for Angus Robertson to be suspended from his cabinet role after meeting with an Israeli diplomat.
The party’s Dalkeith branch has reportedly submitted a motion of censure against the External Affairs Secretary which alleges he has brought the SNP into disrepute by holding talks with Daniela Grudsky, deputy Israeli ambassador to the UK.
The motion makes two “demands”. One is that Robertson should be investigated by the SNP’s conduct committee for “bringing the party into disrepute”. The other is that he should be suspended as a minister pending a Scottish Government investigation.
Calls for action to be taken against Robertson have intensified over the weekend after the SNP decided to suspend Glasgow MSP John Mason after he appeared to deny a genocide was taking place in Gaza.
The Sunday Mail also reported that John Swinney asked Robertson to attend the meeting with Grudsky.
The Scottish Government has confirmed Grudsky had initially asked to meet Swinney but that diplomatic protocol dictated that she meet Robertson instead.
The meeting – which involved Grudsky and Robertson discussing “areas of mutual interest” - was only made public four days after it took place.
According to The Times, the Dalkeith branch has now submitted a motion – which may be debated at the SNP’s conference later this month – arguing that action should be taken because Robertson held the meeting despite the International Court of Justice, the UN’s highest court, having ruled last month that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories was unlawful.
The motion argues the fact that areas of co-operation to benefit both Scotland and Israel were discussed went against the court’s recommendation that states avoid any action, including aid or assistance, that would help to maintain the present situation.
It highlights “impassioned” speeches at last year’s conference by Humza Yousaf, then first minister, and his wife Nadia El-Nakla, a councillor in Dundee whose parents were trapped in Gaza after Israel attacked in response to the October 7 assault by Hamas.
El-Nakla has also criticised Robertson’s meeting. In a statement, the SNP Friends of Palestine group – of which she is convener – said: “While we know Mr Robertson called for a ceasefire, we cannot condone his statement advocating for further co-operation between Scotland and Israel, especially while Israel continues its genocide in Gaza and ongoing persecution of Palestinians in the West Bank.
“We would urge the party to issue an apology and a guarantee, especially for our Palestinian citizens, that this normalisation of the state of Israel will not happen again.”
The motion states: “The SNP has led on condemnation of these actions in Gaza and the public trust us to take a moral standpoint.
“The SNP leadership must at all times follow and reflect the wishes of its members as expressed at conference.
“To agree to a meeting for any purpose, other than to singularly condemn the actions of the current government within Israel, is a breach of that trust, trust placed in the hands of senior ministers by both party members and the electorate.”
Other SNP members and organisations, including Scots Asians for Independence, are reportedly helping the Dalkeith branch to drum up support for the motion in an effort to have it heard at the party’s conference, which takes place at the Edinburgh International Conferencen Centre from August 30 to September 1.
The SNP have been approached for comment.
