Labour Party conference to debate hardline anti-Israel motion on Monday
Starmer urged to fully suspend arms trade with the Jewish state
The Labour Party conference will debate a hardline anti-Israel motion backed by some of the biggest trade unions on Monday, which calls for the full suspension of the arms trade with the Jewish state and an end to the trade and partnership agreement with the UK.
The motion, moved by the UNISON union, also calls for the government to “ensure individuals and corporations in the UK are not involved in aiding and assisting the genocide”.
It demands Keir Starmer’s government apply “comprehensive sanctions to put pressure on the Israeli government to respect international law, including a full arms embargo and ending military cooperation”.
While it describes recognition of the Palestinian state by the government as a “beginning”, it adds: Further steps by the government are urgently required to prevent the crime of genocide, and demand a permanent ceasefire, full access to humanitarian assistance, the release of hostages and an end to the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories.”
It continues: “The government must also take action to address the escalating displacement of Palestinian communities, destruction of their homes and property, settler and military attacks, and the expansion of illegal settlements and outposts, all of which are contributing to the continued annexation of the occupied West Bank.”
A second motion is more supportive of the government’s position, and praises the decision to recognise a Palestinian state.
But it still calls for Starmer to “fully suspend arms trade with Israel that could be used in the conflict” and apply “further sanctions to put pressure on the Israeli government to respect international law.”
The motion, moved by Hackney North and Stoke Newington CLP, begins by stating: “Hamas perpetrated the worst massacre in Israel’s history on 7 October 2023, and hostages continue to be held in captivity.”
Monday’s debate will be held within the International Affairs session inside the main conference hall.
One Labour figure joked:”We might even see delegates discussing other major world issues like Sudan – ‘might’ being the word.”
Ahead of conference, 33 motions on Israel-Palestine were rejected by Labour’s Conference Arrangement Committee (CAC) on the grounds that they did not cover new ground.
But on Sunday’s CAC ruled the new motions “in order” to be debated on the floor of the conference in Liverpool.
Reacting to the motions on Israel a Board of Deputies spokesperson said:”On a day where serious talks are happening in Washington towards the resolution of this awful war, the highly problematic resolutions at Labour Conference are a divisive distraction.
“Continually failing to address the culpability of Hamas does nothing to move us towards peace.
“We call on the government to disregard these motions, move beyond empty gestures, and get back to meaningful diplomacy. What is needed are concerted moves towards a ceasefire that gets the hostages out, aid in, removes the threat of Hamas, and Iays the ground for sustainable peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider Middle East.”
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