Canny Scots

The Scottish Labor Party has been virtually wiped out with the Scottish National Party (SNP) winning 56 of Scotland's 59 seats in the May 7 UK elections.

Support for Palestine was clearly part of the ferment for change north of the Tweed:

"The Scottish National Party general election candidate for Glasgow South has called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be tried for war crimes. Stewart McDonald also described Israel as an 'apartheid' state and publicly backed a boycott of the Jewish State.

"The parliamentary candidate was speaking at a hustings debate in Glasgow in the run up to the UK general election next month. He was responding to a question about his stance on the occupation of Palestine... McDonald reportedly won applause when he said: 'I think we need to get Netanyahu in front of a war crimes trial.' He said he has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause and backs a two-state solution. 'The Palestinian issue was one of the things that brought me into politics. It's one of the biggest injustices still going on today and I'm a proud member of the SNP's Friends of Palestine group,' he said. 'It's British imperialism at its worst. Where someone sits in a hall and divides up a piece of land that they've never visited... and look at the problems that it causes. If it looks like apartheid then I'm going to call it apartheid and that's what it looks like to me. Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) is worth pursuing and is one of the things I really hope to move forward.'

"McDonald's mention of British imperialism is a reference to the UK's historical involvement in the foundation of the Jewish State. In 1917, the UK's Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour [a Scot!] promised British support for the foundation of a Jewish 'national home' in Palestine... This was known as the Balfour Declaration. The SNP manifesto has pledged to support official recognition of Palestine and will pressure the UK government to support a two-state solution." (Netanyahu should face 'war crimes trial' - SNP election candidate, rt.com, 23/4/15)

Now listen to McDonald's opponent, Tom Harris, the Labour MP for Glasgow South, now thankfully consigned to the dustbin of history:

"I've been a long-time supporter of the two state solution. We need Hamas to stop firing rockets into Israel and recognize Israel's right to exist." (ibid)

Sounds just like your typical Australian Labor party hasbarist.

You'll also be pleased to know that:

a) Scottish Labour Party leader, Jim Murphy, described by Israel's Honorary Consul for Scotland, Stanley Lovatt, as "a true friend of Israel" has likewise been swept away.

b) The Scottish Trade Union Congress backs the BDS campaign against Israel.

Canny Scots!