Labour MPS urge party support for Palestine

As the British Labour party conference draws to a close, a final seminar was held to support Palestine. The meeting, which was attended by a number of Labour MPs, including Richard Burden, Jeremy Corbyn and Andy Slaughter, discussed Britain’s support for Palestine. Members stressed the importance of increasing the position of the Palestinian issue on the Labour Party agenda. Although Labour has expressed its support for Palestinian statehood, the issue of Palestine is not a defining issue for the party. Labour’s legacy in government between 1997 and 2010, made little difference to the Israel-Palestine dispute. The opening speaker, Adrian Weir, from Unite the Union, congratulated the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, for submitting the UN bid. “It is no wonder that he received a standing ovation from the UN General Assembly”, Weir said. “I hope to be able to soon welcome the 194th member (Palestine) of the United Nations”, although he acknowledged that “no one is so naïve to believe that a vote today will lead to a state tomorrow.” However, he expressed his unwavering support for the Palestine 194 movement which is leading the campaign for UN recognition. “There can be no peace in the Middle East until there is a just peace for the Palestinians.” Weir expressed hope that the protests that have taken place in Israel over recent months would increase pressure on the government to end the occupation. Although the demonstrations have protested against Israeli economic problems, Weir hoped that the focus would shift to the occupation. “After all how much does the occupation cost every Israeli citizen”, he asked. He called the Middle East Envoy and former-British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, a “disgrace” and considers Blair’s appointment as envoy as “akin to Dracula at the bloodbank. It just doesn’t work.” Karma Nablusi, a former PLO representative and Oxford fellow also spoke, stressing the strength of the Palestinian spirit. “More important than the fragmentation that has happened through the apartheid and occupation is what unites us as people” “What unites us as Palestinians are two things: self determination and return.” “People often forget that we are a refugee people. The majority of us were expelled in 1948 and live in refugee camps and in exile without any social and civil rights.” “As people we overcome that fragmentation and united around our principles.” “We’re all here to struggle for justice in our lives, we’re all here coming together to struggle for freedom, for dignity and rights for people all over the world”, she said. Andy Slaughter, MP, also praised the Palestinian statehood bid for “putting Israel on the back foot.” “Israelis should be welcoming the recognition of the Palestinian state. It should be a partner for peace.” The fact that they are not “reflects their colonial attitude”, he said. Slaughter accused the opponents of Palestinian statehood of failing to make a compelling justification for their viewpoint. “The reality is that we could solve all of the Palestinian problems tomorrow, and the fact that this isn’t being done is part of the injustice.” The Palestine Solidarity Campaign echoed the others’ comments. Hugh Lanning, the movement’s chair, accused the US of “not believing in a just settlement” for Palestine. The movement’s Campaign Director, Sarah Colborne, said: “We are at tipping point on the issue. Palestine is up on the international agenda as never before.” “We have a responsibility in this country to drive this issue forward. Palestinians have been struggling for their rights for too long” “It’s an issue of human rights, it’s one of equality, it’s one of freedom”, she said. Jeremy Corbyn, MP, ended the seminar with a firm attack on the current British government and its refusal to commit to Palestinian statehood. “We don’t live in an even handed society and we certainly don’t have a government that is even handed towards issues in the Middle East”, he said.