Union leader speaks of ‘Palestine – biggest open air prison in the world’
Aslef leader Mick Whelan was a speaker at the fringe Labour and Palestine event at the party conference in Liverpool, at which MPs John McDonnell and Beth Winter also spoke
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Trade union leader Mick Whelan has spoken of a visit to Palestine which he described as the “biggest open prison in the world” at a fringe Labour conference event.
The Aslef general secretary told the audience at the Labour and Palestine group event, of which he is chair, that “when I went to Palestine I was struck by geographically it was the size of Wales.”
Whelen added: “Everywhere I went there was security, roadblocks, security, people struggling to feed their families, basic needs were not allowed between A,B and citizens.
“We know the problems in Palestine, we know it’s an occupation. We need to do something about it.”
Referring to the most recent conflict with Islamic Jihad in Gaza, Whelan also accused Israel of failing to give warnings ahead of airstrikes.
He added the pictures that come out of Palestine daily “shame the 21st century.”
Whelan then added:”I have been in Ukraine recently, if we can stand up for self determination in Ukraine, we can stand up for it anywhere.”
He added: “Supporting BDS is the right thing to do.”
Also speaking at the event wereLabour MPs including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and Welsh MP Beth Winter.
McDonnell referred to the recent pledge by Prime Minister Liz Truss to consider moving the UK embassy to Jerusalem.
He said the Policy Working Group had sent a “briefing” to Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to explain the “significance of this.”
McDonnell said Truss’s proposal about the embassy move had “raised alarm bells across parliament, including in the Conservative Party.”
He said any embassy move had the potential to spark violence.
The former shadow chancellor’s condemnation of the move was backed by Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador who also spoke.
Left-wing MP Winter told Tuesday’s event “while we rightly condemn” Russia over its invasion Ukraine we must also “equally condemn” the “illegal actions” of Israel in Palestine.
Stating her support for a two state solution, Winter then accused Israel of “crimes” including deaths in Gaza.
“We cannot and must not forget the misery and suffering of the Palestinian people,” she added.
Winter also referenced the Amnesty International report published earlier this year which accused Israel of practicing “apartheid.”
Gemma Bolton, a member of Labour’s NEC also spoke, and criticised party leader Keir Starmer.
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