The SNP’s posturing on Israel is pure Thick of It

Scottish Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson came under huge criticism, both from rivals the Scottish Greens and from within his own party, after recently meeting Israel’s deputy ambassador. 

Although he was defended by Scottish First Minister John Swinny, Robertson later announced 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.”

Added to that, the SNP suspended one of its own backbench Members of the Scottish Parliament, John Mason, for saying that Israel hasn’t committed genocide in Gaza and that “If they wanted to commit genocide, they could have killed 10 times as many Palestinians as they have. Remember it is Iran/Hamas which wants Israel wiped off the map.”

He was urged to "educate himself" by Scottish Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee who described his comments as “deeply offensive ... hugely inaccurate, and… not in line with the values of the SNP”.

But what are the SNP’s values in this case?

Joe Biden has said that what is happening in Gaza is “not genocide”. Would an independent Scotland seek to shun the United States as it has its own backbench MSP? Given the official SNP policy is to seek to join Nato, it seems unlikely they’d want to risk a major row with the most powerful member of the alliance.

What is even more bizarre, given the outrage from SNP figures at Mason’s comments, is that the Scottish government wouldn’t go so far as to call what is happening in Gaza a “genocide”.

A spokesperson was far more equivocal and told the JC, “It is for the international courts considering the Genocide Convention to investigate and determine the charge of genocide. As a government committed to the international rule of law, we support any investigation into alleged crimes against humanity and genocide. The International Court of Justice has insisted that Israel take all steps to prevent the allegations of the crime of genocide, and ordered Israel to ensure access so this crime can be investigated by relevant UN bodies.”

If the international courts come to the same conclusion as Mason, will he and those who share his assessment of what is happening in Gaza be given a formal apology? 

Or is this a case of politicking: saying one thing to appease critics and doing something completely different in practice?

Although Robertson may have wanted to project his inner Regina George from Mean Girls when he effectively declared “you can’t sit with us” to Israeli officials, it now transpires that he didn’t mean that the Scottish government wanted to completely cut ties with Israel.

Asked if there were other governments whom the Scots had shunned, a spokesperson told the JC: “Ministers make decisions to meet Governments on a case by case basis. Now that Ministers have made the Government of Israel aware of their position on the Gaza crisis, they will not hold any further bilaterals at Ministerial level until meaningful progress towards peace is secured and humanitarian needs are addressed. Contact at official level will be sustained. (Emphasis added)

“For wider context the Scottish Government has gone further than this with other countries, for example limiting all official and Ministerial contact with Russia since the illegal war on Ukraine.”

Presumably those wanting a harsher stance towards Israel will be disappointed by the detail behind the headlines and dramatic announcements.

One can’t help but get the sense that recent Scottish foreign policy has more to do with the SNP’s own political struggles.

After 17 years at the top of Scottish politics, there have been more First Ministers in the last two years (Swinney, Yousaf and Sturgeon) than in the last 15 (Salmond and Sturgeon). At the recent Westminster general election, the SNP were routed and went from 48 seats to just nine.

Facing pressure from their former coalition partners the Scottish Greens  and a resurgent Scottish Labour Party, the SNP finds itself in uncharted territory.

Historically an anti-establishment party used to pointing a blaming finger at “Westminster”, it has been in government longer than any party in Scotland since devolution in 1999. Yet, it is no closer to achieving its ultimate goal of an independent Scotland.

Although Scottish parliamentary elections are at least two years away, it remains to be seen whether performative anti-Israel positioning will have any truck with the Scottish electorate, or whether the SNP government’s record in power will count for more in the eyes of voters north of the border.

If the result of the general election is anything to go by, the SNP faces a serious challenge ahead.