Chamber
Plenary, 08 Jan 2009
08 Jan 2009 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Gaza (Humanitarian Disaster)
Like many others, over the past fortnight I have found myself shouting at the television as I have watched the carnage in Gaza. There may be terrorists in Gaza, but there are clearly many more civilians, and they are being bombarded day after day by aircraft, helicopters and artillery. Last weekend the army moved in, and now even more civilians taking refuge from the bombardment are being killed and injured.
The barbarity of the acts that we are witnessing is accentuated by the calculations that lie behind them. First, there is the political calculation that sees the month before the inauguration of Barack Obama, combined with the run-up to elections in Israel, as a window of opportunity for the unleashing of a violent onslaught. Secondly, there is the calculated media and diplomatic offensive that has gone side-by-side with the military intervention and was months in the planning. It is regrettable that, in their coverage of Gaza, the United Kingdom media have chosen to give so much prominence to Israeli spokespersons proffering justifications for the indefensible rather than focus on the effects of sophisticated weapons on a civilian population.
Above all, media coverage—especially television news coverage—omits the vital context of the conflict, which is the fact that Palestinians have been systematically herded into smaller and smaller parcels of territory after forcible removal from their homes. In Gaza, the people have been barricaded in and deprived of vital infrastructure and supplies.
There have been Israeli casualties in areas close to Gaza as a result of the firing of mortar rockets. Any terrorist acts that lead to such deaths or injuries are to be condemned, and I do so unreservedly, but the systematic destruction that is being caused in Gaza by much greater firepower is neither a proportionate nor an appropriate response. Military action has not succeeded in preventing attacks on Israel in the past. The only solution is one that removes the source of the grievance, and that is where Israel has failed. The current bombardment of Gaza will make a negotiated solution all the more difficult to achieve—indeed, it appears calculated to do so, which is something that the international community should take into account in its response. We are dealing not with a humanitarian crisis that can be dealt with if medical and food aid are brought in to relieve immediate suffering following a cease-fire but with a continuing political crisis that will fester, with huge consequences for the whole world, until there is justice for the Palestinian people.
There is no doubt that both sides share blame for the failure to reach an agreement at Camp David. However, if Hamas has succeeded in winning the support of many of the people of Gaza, it is because the previous Palestinian leadership was weakened in its ability to negotiate successfully—and the undermining of that leadership was a deliberate act of policy by Israel and the Americans, who were not prepared to tolerate a strong Palestinian leadership. To achieve a political solution, Israel will have to negotiate with leaders who are chosen by the Palestinian people. It will have to make territorial concessions, including concessions in Jerusalem, which it is currently not prepared to do.
I want to see an end to the bloodshed in Gaza, but it is not enough simply to stop the bombardment. Peace requires justice, and engagement on the basis of mutual respect is a prerequisite of any progress, but it cannot be achieved by military means. The international community must demand justice for the Palestinians—justice whose legal basis is the UN resolutions that we have failed to enforce for so long. It is time for us to demand not just an end to the fighting but a lasting settlement. We have a responsibility—the whole world has a responsibility—to ensure that that is done.
The barbarity of the acts that we are witnessing is accentuated by the calculations that lie behind them. First, there is the political calculation that sees the month before the inauguration of Barack Obama, combined with the run-up to elections in Israel, as a window of opportunity for the unleashing of a violent onslaught. Secondly, there is the calculated media and diplomatic offensive that has gone side-by-side with the military intervention and was months in the planning. It is regrettable that, in their coverage of Gaza, the United Kingdom media have chosen to give so much prominence to Israeli spokespersons proffering justifications for the indefensible rather than focus on the effects of sophisticated weapons on a civilian population.
Above all, media coverage—especially television news coverage—omits the vital context of the conflict, which is the fact that Palestinians have been systematically herded into smaller and smaller parcels of territory after forcible removal from their homes. In Gaza, the people have been barricaded in and deprived of vital infrastructure and supplies.
There have been Israeli casualties in areas close to Gaza as a result of the firing of mortar rockets. Any terrorist acts that lead to such deaths or injuries are to be condemned, and I do so unreservedly, but the systematic destruction that is being caused in Gaza by much greater firepower is neither a proportionate nor an appropriate response. Military action has not succeeded in preventing attacks on Israel in the past. The only solution is one that removes the source of the grievance, and that is where Israel has failed. The current bombardment of Gaza will make a negotiated solution all the more difficult to achieve—indeed, it appears calculated to do so, which is something that the international community should take into account in its response. We are dealing not with a humanitarian crisis that can be dealt with if medical and food aid are brought in to relieve immediate suffering following a cease-fire but with a continuing political crisis that will fester, with huge consequences for the whole world, until there is justice for the Palestinian people.
There is no doubt that both sides share blame for the failure to reach an agreement at Camp David. However, if Hamas has succeeded in winning the support of many of the people of Gaza, it is because the previous Palestinian leadership was weakened in its ability to negotiate successfully—and the undermining of that leadership was a deliberate act of policy by Israel and the Americans, who were not prepared to tolerate a strong Palestinian leadership. To achieve a political solution, Israel will have to negotiate with leaders who are chosen by the Palestinian people. It will have to make territorial concessions, including concessions in Jerusalem, which it is currently not prepared to do.
I want to see an end to the bloodshed in Gaza, but it is not enough simply to stop the bombardment. Peace requires justice, and engagement on the basis of mutual respect is a prerequisite of any progress, but it cannot be achieved by military means. The international community must demand justice for the Palestinians—justice whose legal basis is the UN resolutions that we have failed to enforce for so long. It is time for us to demand not just an end to the fighting but a lasting settlement. We have a responsibility—the whole world has a responsibility—to ensure that that is done.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S3M-3179, in the name of Nicola Sturgeon, on the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Nicola Sturgeon):
SNP
First, let me take the opportunity to thank all parties for their support and co-operation in securing today's very important debate.The scenes of devastatio...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab):
Lab
This morning, it is right that we should spend some time discussing how Scotland can respond to the humanitarian disaster that is happening in the Gaza strip...
Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
Few of us who spoke in Pauline McNeill's members' business debate on the last day before the Christmas recess could have expected the escalation in violence ...
Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab):
Lab
Will the member give way on that point?
Ted Brocklebank:
Con
No, I will not. I have only four minutes.Bringing about a cease-fire now is no easy matter, as there must be a cease-fire on both sides. It is pointless to d...
Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD):
LD
The Palestinian people are paying a dear price for Europe's guilt about what happened to European Jews. I find Mr Brocklebank's comments completely inappropr...
Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con):
Con
Will the member give way?
Hugh O'Donnell:
LD
I am sorry, but I have only four minutes.The overwhelming use of force by Israel and the unacceptable loss of civilian lives are radicalising moderate Palest...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
We now move to the open debate. There will be four-minute speeches, and I remind members that no one-minute warnings will be given and that they should there...
Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
I thank the Scottish Government and all political parties for acting swiftly to enable us to have this debate. It is important that the Scottish Parliament s...
Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab):
Lab
Like many others, over the past fortnight I have found myself shouting at the television as I have watched the carnage in Gaza. There may be terrorists in Ga...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I will not join the many armchair experts on the complex situation in the middle east and, in particular, the Palestine-Israeli conflict. Instead, I turn to ...
Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab):
Lab
I am pleased that members have been given the opportunity to come together in this debate and I am sure that we can unanimously agree the terms of the motion...
Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green):
Green
Ted Brocklebank attempted to be fair and even-handed, but this is not the time to be fair and even-handed; this is the time for us to express our horror at w...
Sandra White:
SNP
Is the member aware that Alyn Smith MEP has a motion in the European Parliament on exactly that point? It proposes that we keep up the pressure on Israel and...
Robin Harper:
Green
I thank Sandra White for that useful intervention. We can all lean on the other MEPs to support that motion.The decision in December to support the upgrade i...
Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
I thank the Scottish Government for lodging the motion.Since 27 December, we have witnessed an assault on Gaza that is unlike anything before. The numbers in...
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to take part in this important debate. It is right and proper that the Scottish Parliament should express its view on the crisis in...
Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD):
LD
Like millions of other people, I am absolutely shocked by the huge scale of the Israeli attacks that have been taking place since 27 December and which we ha...
Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con):
Con
Naturally, the debate has at times been emotionally charged—so it must be when images of raw conflict are broadcast into our homes as it happens. The debate ...
Pauline McNeill:
Lab
The business manager of the Conservative party was quite helpful in allowing us to secure a debate this morning. However, I am sad to say that the speakers f...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
Order.
Ted Brocklebank:
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Pauline McNeill:
Lab
I will not.I want to address the points that were made by Ted Brocklebank and Jackson Carlaw, who should perhaps clarify their position.Ted Brocklebank sugge...
The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture (Linda Fabiani):
SNP
It is absolutely right that the Parliament discusses these issues. Throughout the debate, we have heard the depth of feeling that the developing humanitarian...