Politics
Suspended SNP politician defends comments that Israel has not committed genocide
Israel could have killed a lot more people, John Mason said
August 20, 2024 11:58
Israel could have killed a lot more people, John Mason said
August 20, 2024 11:58A Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) who was suspended by the Scottish National Party (SNP) for posting on X/Twitter that Israel has not committed genocide in Gaza has defended his comments.
John Mason, who has represented Glasgow Shettleston since 2011, told BBC Good Morning Scotland yesterday: “I completely stand by the tweet, which was making the point this is not genocide.
“When we look at other examples of genocide, historically, it's nothing like what's happening in Gaza.
“And if Israel wanted to commit genocide, you know, sadly, they could have killed an awful lot more people.”
The SNP backbencher’s comments were criticised by many in his own party. Scottish Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee urged John Mason to "educate himself" and defended his party’s decision to remove the whip from Mason, describing his comments as “deeply offensive, it's hugely inaccurate, and it's not in line with the values of the SNP”.
A spokesperson for the SNP Chief Whip told the JC yesterday: "To flippantly dismiss the death of more than 40,000 Palestinians is completely unacceptable. There can be no room in the SNP for this kind of intolerance.
"The Chief Whip has today withdrawn the whip from John Mason MSP with immediate effect, pending internal Parliamentary Group due process.
"The SNP Group will now meet to discuss the matter, with a recommendation that the whip be suspended from John Mason for a fixed period of time because of this utterly abhorrent comment."
Also yesterday, the Scottish government said that it would not be meeting with officials from the Israeli government.
Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture said: “Going forward, it is clear that, having now spoken direct to the Israeli Government and making them aware of our position on an immediate ceasefire, it would not be appropriate to accept any invitation for a further meeting.
“This will remain our position until such time as real progress has been made towards peace, unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance is provided and Israel cooperates fully with its international obligations on the investigation of genocide and war crimes."
Last week, Robertson came under criticism for meeting Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UK.
The JC reported that his decision to meet with Daniela Grudsky faced criticism and was called “Absolutely shameful and bordering on complicity” by a Green MSP.