THE SNP and Scottish Labour are to be challenged to “match words with actions” in a Holyrood vote on a Scottish state boycott of Israel.
Both SNP First Minister John Swinney and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar have called Israel’s actions in Gaza a “genocide”, and the Scottish Greens have tabled a vote on Wednesday afternoon to test if they will move “beyond condemnation and tak[e] practical steps”.
The vote will come on an amendment to a motion moved by External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson on the recognition of the state of Palestine, which the UK Government is expected to do later in September.
Robertson’s motion asks only for the Scottish parliament to agree “with the recognition of the State of Palestine and that peace in the region must be pursued by all”.
However, an amendment tabled by the Scottish Green’s Patrick Harvie will ask MSPs to further call on “the Scottish and UK Governments to immediately impose a package of boycotts, divestment and sanctions targeted at the state of Israel and at companies complicit in its military operations and its occupation of Palestine”.
In August, the Scottish Government said it would consider a state boycott of Israel – and the SNP Cabinet met on Tuesday to discuss what measures will be taken. They are expected to be announced by the First Minister on Wednesday.
Harvie urged the SNP to support his amendment, saying: “There is a moral obligation on all governments not only to oppose genocide but to actively work to stop it.
He went on: “We are all appalled by the killing and the collective punishment of Palestinians, but words are not enough. We will not be judged by the things we say, but by what we actually do.
“Today’s vote is about moving beyond condemnation and taking practical steps that will make a difference.
“It is a test of our Parliament's commitment to match words with actions and to demand better. I hope that the Scottish Government and MSPs from all parties will back it.”
Scottish Labour have also tabled an amendment to Robertson’s motion through MSP Neil Bibby.
Bibby’s amendment would leave the original motion intact, but add on to the end a series of pieces of praise for actions taken by the Labour Government in Westminster, such as moving to “restore funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, restrict arms sales licences to prevent breaches of international law, issue sanctions on Israeli ministers and settlers in the West Bank and commit to recognising a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly”.
The Labour amendment further calls on the “Scottish Government to update the Parliament on the due diligence checks carried out by Scottish Enterprise during investment decision processes to ensure that defence products are not used in breaches of humanitarian law in Gaza or elsewhere”.
The SNP Government has faced criticism for channelling funding to arms firms supplying Israel through its investment agency Scottish Enterprise.
Scottish Enterprise has insisted that any funding is for apprenticeships, training, and development, not the direct manufacture of munitions.
On Monday, Swinney said: “Tomorrow I will meet with my Cabinet and we will discuss a range of measures we can take to support the people of Gaza.
“I will update Parliament on Wednesday afternoon with the actions we are taking to show our solidarity with the Gazan people and to help end this barbaric conflict.”
