Politics
Scottish Greens attack SNP for meeting Israeli Deputy Ambassador
We used meeting to call for Gaza ceasefire, says First Minister John Swinney
August 14, 2024 15:09
We used meeting to call for Gaza ceasefire, says First Minister John Swinney
August 14, 2024 15:09The Scottish government has been criticised for meeting Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UK.
Daniela Grudsky met Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs & Culture last week, which angered the SNP’s former coalition party, the Scottish Greens.
Thank you @AngusRobertson for welcoming us to wonderful Scotland.
— Daniela Grudsky (@DanielaGrudsky) August 12, 2024
Discussed the unique commonalities between 🇮🇱-🏴 and also emphasized the urgent need to bring back our 115 hostages.
Looking forward to cooperating in the fields of technology, culture and renewable energy. pic.twitter.com/sh2KeqRa9j
Ross Greer, Green Member of the Scottish Parliament for Western Scotland, posted on X/Twitter: “Three hundred days into Israel inflicting a genocide (sic) on the Palestinian people and the SNP are talking to their government about energy and cultural cooperation. Absolutely shameful and bordering on complicity.”
Three hundred days into Israel inflicting a genocide on the Palestinian people and the SNP are talking to their government about energy and cultural cooperation. Absolutely shameful and bordering on complicity. https://t.co/9euhIodUa8
— Ross Greer (@Ross_Greer) August 13, 2024
However, Scottish First Minister John Swinney claimed that at the meeting Robertson expressed “the Scottish Government's clear and unwavering position on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza”.
He also insisted that “the Scottish Government received the meeting request and accepted on the basis it would provide an opportunity to convey our consistent position on the killing and suffering of innocent civilians in the region.
Last week the Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs met the Israeli UK Deputy Ambassador to express the Scottish Government's clear and unwavering position on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. (1/4)
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) August 14, 2024
“I understand why some believe a face-to-face meeting was not appropriate, however, I thought it necessary to outline our long-standing position on an immediate ceasefire directly, and explicitly, to one of Israel's representatives in the UK.
“As First Minister and SNP Leader, I will never hold back in expressing support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, an end to UK arms being sent to Israel, and the recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state within a two-state solution.”
Greer remained unconvinced by the First Minister and tweeted that “Apartheid Israel should be boycotted, but if you are going to meet them then ending the genocide should be the only item up for discussion. That didn't happen.”
Shortly after the October 7 attack, Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman came under fire for claiming that it was "consequence of apartheid, illegal occupation and imperial aggression by the Israeli state" in a social media post which has since been removed.
The party’s 2021 manifesto for the Scottish parliamentary election included a pledge to support “the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction campaign against the state of Israel and companies complicit in its illegal occupation.”
The Scottish Greens were in a coalition government with the SNP between 2021 and April this year. Their power-sharing agreement, known as the Bute House Agreement, collapsed after a row over climate targets and led to the resignation of Humza Yousaf as First Minister.