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Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign statement
19 August 2024
SPSC welcomes the decision by the Scottish Government to suspend all meetings with Israeli ambassadors until “real progress has been made towards peace, unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance is provided and Israel cooperates fully with its international obligations on the investigation of genocide and war crimes". The Scottish Government has also stated that it "does not support any normalisation of its relations with the Israeli Government during this period".
This decision has only come about because constituents across Scotland have expressed their disgust at the fact the meeting happened at all. We note the efforts of the Scottish Green Party and in particular of MSPs Maggie Chapman and Ross Greer for their consistent stand against Israeli genocide, and welcome the dissenting voices within the SNP on this matter.
Israel's deputy ambassador thanked Angus Robertson, Scottish Government External Affairs Secretary, for the visit and looked forward to "cooperating in the fields of technology, culture and renewable energy". This means there are outstanding questions for the Scottish Government to answer and we seek confirmation that any discussions to further such cooperation and normalisation with officials or intermediaries of the Israeli government have also been suspended.
Palestinians continue to face Israel's unrelenting genocidal attacks in Gaza as well as killing in the West Bank, and detention and torture of men, women and children. Conscientious people across Scotland demand action in the form of boycott, divestment and sanctions - including no normalisation by the Scottish Government - until Israel meets its obligation to recognise the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of international law by:
1. Ending its occupation and colonisation of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall
2. Recognising the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and
3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194. ,
We will not be fooled by mere words that only serve to reveal the hypocrisy and double standards of our politicians, governments and institutions.
SPSC will continue to highlight these questions with the Scottish Government and we invite you to join us in these efforts.
Scottish Government statement 'Meeting with Israeli Diplomat', 19 August 2024
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