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Scottish Government must not strengthen ties with Israel

Patrick Harvie MSP tables parliamentary motion criticising SNP meeting with Israeli diplomat

The Scottish Government must confirm that it has no intention of strengthening its ties with Israel while it is inflicting atrocities on the people of Palestine, say the Scottish Greens.

Scottish Green Co-Leader Patrick Harvie has tabled a parliamentary motion criticising the recent meeting that took place between the Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs and a senior Israeli diplomat. The motion calls for the Government to confirm to Parliament that it has no intention of developing closer ties to Israel as long as its actions towards Palestinians are in breach of international law.

The meeting, which has been widely condemned by human rights campaigners and MSPs from across different parties, came after 300 days of bombardment in Gaza and in the aftermath of a landmark ruling from the International Court of Justice that found Israel guilty of apartheid, racial segregation and illegal occupation.

The Scottish Greens have demanded that Angus Robertson and First Minister John Swinney apologise for the meeting and finally take steps to end government grants and contracts to companies complicit in Israel's occupation of Palestine.

Mr Harvie said:

“It is totally inappropriate for the Scottish Government to host a meeting with a senior representative for a government that is inflicting genocide. This was an astonishing misjudgement and it’s essential that the First Minister acknowledges that.

“It is unacceptable for any politician to lend legitimacy to those that are inflicting war crimes, but that's exactly what the Scottish Government did when it chose to host a senior Israeli diplomat to discuss “unique commonalities” and have a senior Minister posing for photos with her.

“Scottish Greens have been calling on the Scottish Government to end all support for companies profiting from the destruction of Gaza and illegal settlements in the West Bank, but time and again, they have failed to take action.

“I hope that MSPs from across the chamber will join me in demanding answers and in calling for the Government to apologise for the meeting and to confirm that they have no intention of developing a closer relationship with Israel while it is committing such atrocities.”