“Alongside the TUC’s clear expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people, policy passed at Labour’s Annual Conferences in 2018, 2019 and 2021 give a clear framework for Labour Party solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
Matt Willgress, Labour & Palestine
In August, Israel’s renewed bombing of Gaza killed 44 Palestinians, including 15 children, and was described by the UN Special rapporteur description as an act contrary to International law.
This followed from the Israeli army’s killing of the Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and then the beating of her coffin bearers by Israeli police, and the outlawing of 7 NGOs including Addameer; the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees and the Palestinian branch of the Defence for Children International.
These events in recent months clearly show the nature of the continuing illegal occupation and denial of the Palestinian peoples’ fundamental rights – and are illustrative of the conclusions of leading human rights organisations including B’tselem, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International that Israel is committing the crime of apartheid against the Palestinian people.
Alongside the TUC’s clear expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people, policy passed at Labour’s Annual Conferences in 2018, 2019 and 2021 give a clear framework for Labour Party solidarity with the Palestinian people, as is supported clearly by most Party members and affiliates, but far too often the Party leadership does not clearly speak up for the Palestinian people.
Now is the time for all the labour and trade union movement to fully stand with all Palestinian human rights defenders and fully oppose the Israeli government’s ongoing attempts to silence them, including through supporting the application made in April to the International Criminal Court (ICC) calling for an investigation into the Israeli government’s systematic targeting of journalists.
It is also the time to renew calls for an ethical policy with regards to all all UK trade with Israel in line with policy passed at previous Labour Conferences, including banning trade with illegal settlements and ending the ongoing arms trade.
Now more than ever, we must speak up for Palestine!
- Join Labour & Palestine for the “Now is the time to speak up for Palestine” fringe event at Labour Party Conference 2022 on Tuesday, 27th September at 12.30PM. Take part alongside Ambassador Husam Zomlot, Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Simon Dubbins, Unite International Director, Gemma Bolton, Labour NEC and more.
- Follow Labour & Palestine at on twitter here and on Facebook here.
- You can join the Palestine Solidarity Campaign here.
- This article was originally published in print in the Labour Party Conference 2022 special edition of Labour Outlook – you can view it here.
