SNP problems over Gaza

Oisin Duncan West of Scotland

The Israeli state’s onslaught on Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip continues despite international condemnation, massive protests across the world and the unimaginable suffering of those trapped by the IDF’s siege. With the death toll surpassing 40,000, capitalist politicians the world over are attempting to affect some kind of stabilisation, not for any humanitarian reason, but fundamentally to shore up US capitalism’s position in the Middle East and internationally.

In Scotland, the SNP, until now, have appeared to offer a more humanitarian approach on this issue, under Humza Yousef £250,000 was sent in aid to UNWRA in Gaza. In the early part of Israel’s offensive, members of Yousef’s partner’s family were trapped in the strip, for which he rightly received much sympathy across the political spectrum. The SNP Westminster group has tabled numerous motions in Westminster, pressuring not only the previous Tory government but also Starmer’s Labour to call for an immediate ceasefire. SNP MP’s have made speeches decrying the Israeli state’s offensive as ‘ethnic cleansing’. The SNP made Gaza a key issue of their general election campaign.

Many of the workers and youth protesting Israeli state terror over the past year will point out, accurately, a stark difference between this approach and the position of Starmer’s Labour government, which waited and waited while more Palestinians were slaughtered before, under pressure, making vague appeals for a “ceasefire” and continuing to back Israel.

Rivers of ink have been spilled by governments and international courts denouncing Israeli state violence and illegal occupations, yet Netanyahu’s government, bolstered by far right elements in the Otzma Yehudit (Israeli National Front), carry on their brutality unabated. More importantly, this brutality has been aided by the British ruling class and others arming the IDF to the teeth.

The revelation of SNP External Affairs Minister Angus Robertson meeting Israeli diplomats, under the direction of First Minister John Swinney has particularly shocked and angered many SNP members and supporters. Many are calling for Robertson a long-time leading member to be removed. It has added to the many simmering tensions that exist in the party over independence strategy, gender rights and the latest cuts programmes.

Many are raising how the SNP can claim to be “pro ceasefire and anti-genocide” while Angus Robertson organises a reception of Israeli ambassador Daniela Grudsky on behalf of the Scottish government, numerous SNP members, MPs and MSPs have publicly criticised the move. In the face of protests the SNP government now says it will no longer meet Israeli diplomats.

Furthermore, John Mason, SNP MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, a long-time embarrassment for the liberal SNP leadership for his conservative views on abortion and other issues

who also met with Grudsky, has been suspended from the party whip after callously declaring “Israel…would have killed ten times as many” in Gaza had they wanted to.

While Mason has been suspended by the SNP, Robertson has admitted that discussion with Grudsky went far beyond talk about a ceasefire, and instead included a range of “mutual interests” such as culture & renewable energy. This should be no surprise from Robertson, who has consistently stated he would support an independent Scotland remaining in NATO, despite the commitments to defence spending and nuclear weapons that would include.

This crisis causes more instability for the SNP government who govern as a minority in Holyrood.

These revelations are disappointing but not surprising; many workers and youth in Scotland will already be rightly, increasingly alienated from the SNP due to their failure to fight austerity, lack of combativity over the national question and the chaos they have presided over for the past year and a half. However, Gaza seemed to be one issue about which they could be perceived to be on “our” side.

However, while seemingly radical on Gaza the SNP have backed arms to Ukraine and called for a no-fly zone to be imposed on Russia as well as heavy sanctions, not just on oligarchs and Putin’s government, but Russian society as a whole, in the early stages of that war. In Westminster Stephen Flynn, their group leader, called for “navigation to be protected” when the Houthis staged attacks from Yemen claiming to be defending the Palestinians. In effect calling for more military action that could contribute to a regional war.

The SNP as ever are caught between trying to appear radical and anti -establishment and appear responsible to international capitalist powers, even Israel and arms companies.

For all the posturing and declarations of the SNP and Scottish Government, Robertson’s actions reveal the reality that his party cannot be trusted as a principled antiwar force fighting for the Palestinians.

We call for the building of a new worker’s party based on the trade unions a vehicle for us to fight for our own class interests at home and to build international solidarity as well. This could include linking up with trade unionists and socialists in the Middle East and aiding their struggles.

What are the SNP leadership really doing to pressure capitalist multinationals on their own doorstep in regard to arms sales?

In contrast, Socialist Party Scotland calls for discussions of trade union shop stewards in arms and defence industries to decide the best form of industrial action to block weapons of death being shipped from factories in Scotland including BAE to the IDF and other imperialist forces involved in conflict. Let’s never forget the heroic example of East Kilbride Rolls Royce workers who blacked an engine from being sent to Pinochet’s Chile. The most effective sanctions are those organised and agreed by workers.

This would provide a rallying point to the anti-war movement and make good on union resolutions for a ceasefire. We fight for socialist struggle for Palestinian liberation, including the building of mass workers parties in Palestine and Israel and links between them. The immediate withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza and the West Bank and for a independent Socialist Palestine alongside a Socialist Israel in a voluntary socialist confederation of the region.