“It was the British – its empire and colonial rule, that caused this, that put down the Palestinian rebellions, allowed the Nakba, supported the occupation and has been complicit in all of Israel’s wars.”
By Hugh Lanning, Labour and Palestine
E1 has always been Israel’s ‘Death Star’ – a super-weapon designed to kill off any possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state. A huge settlement project cutting off East Jerusalem from the West Bank, which it cuts in two, opening the way for the direct linkage of ’67 Israel with the Jordan Valley. E1 is a key plank in the Zionist strategy of building a Greater Israel and erasing Palestine forever from the map.
Western powers have always said it is a no-go zone, a red line which Israel crossed at their peril – consequences would follow. For those governments and leaders who still promote the ‘two-state solution’, rather than decolonisation, as their fig-leaf to cover up their indecent lack of response to Israel’s behaviour, it reveals their political nakedness – no policy, no clue, no humanity. E1 sinks any final credibility in the plausibility of such a solution.
The draft Contemporary Motion for Labour Party conference that has been circulated by Labour & Palestine, PSC, Momentum and CLPD focuses on the ongoing slaughter in Gaza and the inaction of successive British Governments.
The motion welcomes Andy Burnham’s apology on Gaza and acknowledges Ed Miliband’s statements on the settlements, but it calls for a fundamental shift in Labour’s approach, demanding sanctions by the UK Government and internationally. In his statement, Andy Burnham said he would support stronger action if it was needed. Emily Thornberry – as chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee has called for a ban on settlement goods.
This is the smallest step that could reasonably be taken by a UK government finally crossing the line – taking action against the Israeli state and its trade. The action so far aimed at individuals – nasty settlers, the bad apples in the Israeli pie, completely misses the point. It is like targeting Russian soldiers for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The war on Gaza, the genocide, the starvation, the settler violence and settlement construction aren’t errors or accidents; they are Israel’s considered and deliberate actions. Labour Party conferences have passed motions on Palestine previously, which have been studiously ignored. The motion passed last year condemning Israel’s genocide does not even get a mention in this year’s NPF report.
With a new leader, a new Prime Minister promising more radical action and inclusive behaviour this year’s conference is a key opportunity to test the difference – is there real change behind the rhetoric?
Palestine has long been described as Labour’s litmus test of its commitment to international law and human rights. This is even truer of the new Burnham administration. If it is to have any hope of winning back those many lost members, voters and supporters who deserted Labour under Starmer because of his policy on Palestine, then this is the one, probably the only opportunity, he will have to do things differently. Everyone hopes for, but few realistically expect, that a Labour Government is going to suddenly see the light and unilaterally endorse a full boycott of Israeli trade and impose an embargo of arms. But if it doesn’t finally start taking action that sanctions the Israeli state for its crimes, then many will give up hope that the process of holding Israel to account will ever come to pass on Labour’s watch.
Some commentators and operators inside the party hold out the prospect of a change of Government in Israel after the forthcoming elections and the final departure of the, literally in so many ways, criminal Netanyahu. This is a false hope; the policies Israel is pursuing are not new, nor unpopular within Israel. Settlers and the extreme right have won the hearts and minds of the population, not just the Government. The Zionist ambitions for a greater Israel covering all the land from the Mediterranean to the River Jordan are now entrenched in the mainstream of Israeli politics.
Neither is there going to be any US cavalry charging over the horizon, despite some important election victories within the Democratic Party. Mike Huckabee, the US Ambassador in Israel, has already stated that it does not oppose E1 and does not view it as a violation of international law.
In this context, more handwringing – words without the back-up of targeted, meaningful sanctions – would be worse than vacuous, mere rhetoric. Labour Party conference gives an early opportunity for the overwhelming majority of rank and file Labour Party members to demonstrate their commitment to supporting Palestine and its right to self-determination.
Labour is still the largest membership of any political party in the country; the majority of trade unions are affiliated to it – just. It remains a battleground that it is vital not to cede. Israel and its supporters have poured millions of pounds, time and resources into trying to destroy Labour as a force for justice for Palestine. This is not a theory of conspiracy and complicity – it is the long-held public strategy and plan of the Israeli government. The UK Labour Party and the British solidarity movement are key targets for them to neutralise.
For those who say, ‘why Palestine, why not Sudan, Ukraine or China?’ – the answer is twofold. Support for Palestine is not exclusive of other fights, but it is our generation’s fight – particularly in this country. It was the British – its empire and colonial rule- that caused this, that put down the Palestinian rebellions, allowed the Nakba, supported the occupation and has been complicit in all of Israel’s wars.
Let’s make Labour Party conference show once again that there is still a red flag flying amongst all the other flags that supports justice and freedom. For Labour, E1 is an opportunity to step forward and take action. Alternatively, it could be its nemesis, forever revealing its unshakeable complicity with Israel and its colonising plans for the extermination of Palestine.
- Hugh Lanning is an officer of Labour and Palestine, former Chair of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and former Deputy General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union.
- You can follow Labour and Palestine on Facebook and Twitter/X.
- You can view the draft Contemporary Motion for Labour Party Conference here.
- You can register for the 26th September Liverpool event Justice for Palestine: Defend International Law, Sanctions Now.
