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UK Parliament Palestine Motion is Vote of Anger at Israeli Warmongering

al-Hasani

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UK Parliament Palestine Motion is Vote of Anger at Israeli Warmongering

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May the next motion that passes in UK parliament be a motion for a comprehensive boycott of Israel. (BBC)
Oct 14 2014 / 6:15 pm

By Tariq Shadid

The remarkable landslide win for the motion in UK Parliament to recognize the Palestinian state has taken many around the world by surprise. Even though the vote is merely symbolic, since it is a non-binding motion, it is still being viewed widely as a setback for the Israelis.

Why is this the case, since it is not expected to have any effect on the decision-making of the current British government run by Conservatives? One of the reasons may well be Parliament’s overwhelming support for the motion, which was brought in by backbench Labour MP Graham Morris, namely by a stunning 274 to 12 votes. Another perhaps more important reason can be found in the highly critical tone of the debate in the direction of Israel.

Statements made by Richard Ottaway, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, seem to reflect this sentiment, since he argued that his support for the motion stemmed directly from recent Israeli actions. Stating that he had always ‘stood by Israel through thick and thin’, he expressed his ‘anger over the behavior of Israel’, calling to mind the recent annexation by the Zionist state of 950 acres of Palestinian land which had outraged him ‘more than anything else in my political life’. Very telling was his warning to the Israelis: ‘if it is losing people like me it is going to be losing a lot of people’.

Matthew Gould, Britain’s ambassador to Israel, blamed the massive violence that Netanyahu’s government unleashed on Gaza this summer for the outcome of this vote. On Israeli public radio, he said: “I think that this vote is a sign of shifting public opinion in the UK and indeed beyond. The conflict in the summer over Gaza had a big impact on British public opinion and has affected Israel’s standing.”

As expected, the Israeli response to the outcome of the motion was quite negative. A statement from the foreign ministry said that this symbolic vote “sends a troubling message to the Palestinian leadership that they can evade the tough choices that both sides have to make, and actually undermines the chances to reach a real peace.”

So, what is it that UK Parliament actually agreed upon, on October 13th? The full British motion stated: “That this House believes that the government should recognize the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution.”

The last 8 words in this statement came from an amendment that was requested by Labour Party MP Jack Straw. Another amendment that was called for by Conservatives led by Guto Bebb, had a wording that would have pleased ‘Israel’ a lot more, namely to add the phrase ‘on the conclusion of successful peace negotiations between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority.’ Fortunately, the Conservative amendment failed to gain hold.

The outcome of the motion in its current form means that a successive government run by the Labour Party would unilaterally recognize Palestine, in a similar move to the one announced earlier this month by Sweden’s new left-wing cabinet. This underlines the political significance of this UK Parliament vote, even though it would take a Labour win in the next elections for it to result in anything tangible.

What does this mean for Palestine solidarity movements in the United Kingdom and elsewhere around Europe? Should they celebrate today, or should they raise an eyebrow? The answer to this question may be short of satisfying, perhaps even disappointing, since it is actually a little bit of both.

The symbolism of this vote can be summarized as a vote of anger at Israel and a vote of sympathy for the Palestinians. This is definitely a reason for pro-Palestine activists to cheer it on. Isn’t a lot of what they themselves do about symbolism, and influencing public opinion? When they go out in the streets by the thousands, they don’t exactly expect their demonstration to directly lead to the liberation of Palestine. What they hope to do by such actions is draw attention to the injustices perpetrated by the Israeli against the Palestinians, and raise awareness. On all these levels, this move by the UK Parliament shows that their actions have resulted in a change of hearts at the level of their own representatives in the Chamber.

However, they also have reason to keep their feet on the ground, and be somewhat skeptical at the very least. All it takes is to scratch the surface of the motion, and what you will see is a polished version of UK support for the 1993 Oslo accords, which were already widely supported in British Government circles across the spectrum of left- and right-leaning parties. Most among the pro-Palestine supporters nowadays are highly skeptical of the Oslo setup, since they are well aware that the area that was designated to become the Palestinian state under these accords, has largely been gobbled up by Israeli expansionist efforts of land theft, cut up into various sections by checkpoints, ethnic segregation walls and fences, and ‘Jews-only’ roads meant to be used only by Jewish settlers.

The viability of the state of Palestine that this motion supports is therefore a mere fata morgana. Even if supported by a British government at the highest official level, and with the most bold and powerful statements, it would still not be much more than symbolical support for Palestinian self-determination, unless and until a readiness to resort to means of political and economical pressure upon ‘Israel’ is demonstrated.

Palestine solidarity activists are very well aware of this, and see through the political game of symbolical support for a theoretical Palestinian state, that has done nothing but give the Israelis time to make the factual creation of such a state with a viable economy and safe borders, simply impossible. Since this has already been achieved by the Israeli carrot-on-a-stick approach of years of sham ‘peace negotiations’, the way forward can never truly be support for a two-state solution. The one-state solution which would lead to abolishing the idea of a segregated ‘Jewish state’ – which is at the very heart of Zionist ideology – is what most Palestine activists all around the world are working towards.

Therefore, let us cheer today, that Israel appears to be losing the trust and support of politicians in the United Kingdom. However, let us get serious again tomorrow, and work hard to support the boycott movement that has the ability to create pressure upon Israel to abandon its expansionist plans, its racist ideology, and its genocidal intentions towards the Palestinian people. Let us cherish the hope that these changed sentiments at the level of political representatives in the UK and elsewhere in Europe are not an end station, but the prodromes of true awareness about the Palestinian cause.

All who are genuine in their intentions to achieve real peace and security for all inhabitants of Occupied Palestine living within its historical borders, and true justice for all expelled and banished Palestinians elsewhere in the world, know very well that racial nature of Israeli state must be dismantled and replaced by a one-state government that recognizes all of its inhabitants as equal citizens with equal rights, regardless of their ethnicity or religion.

The motion as it is doesn’t mention these things, but may at its best be a small symbolic step that may help open the minds of lawmakers in Europe to these far more humane and just notions and ideas. May the next motion that passes in the United Kingdom, a historical partner in the crime of giving Zionism a foothold on Palestinian soil, be a motion for a comprehensive boycott of Israel. That’s when we will really have a reason to cheer.

- Tariq Shadid is a surgeon living in the Arabian Peninsula who has been contributing articles to the Palestine Chronicle for many years. Some of these essays have been bundled in the book ‘Understanding Palestine’, which is available on Amazon.com. He also is the founder of the website ‘Musical Intifada’ featuring his songs about the Palestinian cause, on Pro-Palestine Music - Doc Jazz's Musical Intifada: songs of freedom for Palestine

UK Parliament Palestine Motion is Vote of Anger at Israeli Warmongering | Palestine Chronicle

@Hazzy997

Our Arab and Muslim regimes might not be doing enough for Palestine and more often than not they can't do anything for obvious reason but be sure that 99% of the 450-500 million Arabs and 1.7 billion Muslims will call the day of a sovereign Palestinian state a blessed day. The day that we as Muslims and Arabs can take a plane from Makkah or Madinah (Jeddah) to Al-Quds or from Najaf/Karbala (Baghdad) to Al-Quds will be a special day. Let's pray that this will become a reality in our lifetime. Insha'Allah.

Remember; "May the eyes of the coward never find rest in sleep". Khalid ibn al-Walid (ra), the Sword of Allah (swt).
 
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Will France recognize Palestine?

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French lawmakers are preparing to vote on Nov. 28 on a proposal urging the government to recognize
Palestine. (File photo: AFP)​

By Rajia Aboulkheir | Al Arabiya News
Thursday, 13 November 2014

After Sweden officially recognized Palestine last month, other European countries seem eager to follow suit.

French lawmakers are preparing to vote on Nov. 28 on a proposal urging the government to recognize Palestine.

Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Paris would do so only if this would help achieve peace, not as a symbolic gesture.

Some experts say the initiative would help revive peace talks that broke down in April.

“Recognition of the state of Palestine by France and other countries would be a reaffirmation of international support for peace,” Samir Saul, a Middle East expert and professor at the University of Montreal, told Al Arabiya News.

Recognition “would contribute in reviving the so-called peace process,” he added.

In France, an online survey recently conducted by Le Point magazine showed that among the 127,120 voters, 99,035 (78 percent) support recognition of Palestine.

French politician Pouria Amirshahi said recognition would give Palestine more weight at the negotiating table.

“It’s the right time to recognize the Palestinian state,” Amirshahi said, adding that a “smart peace process” requires equality between the two parties.

“In this conflict… it’s unequal combat between a recognized state that has all its legal capacities, and a state that’s not totally recognized and can’t take any legal action,” Amirshahi added.

Recognition of Palestine by European countries could politically isolate the rightwing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel has slammed moves to recognize Palestine, saying independence could only be achieved through negotiations, which would be undermined.

Facts on the ground
Some analysts say recognizing Palestine will not change anything on the ground.

“There are fewer chances to see the creation of a Palestinian state as long as the 40-year-long [Israeli] colonization doesn’t come to an end,” Sébastien Boussois, Middle East specialist and scientific director of the MEDEA Institute, told Al Arabiya News.

Israel has occupied the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967.

It officially annexed East Jerusalem in 1980 and declared the whole city its capital, a move not recognized by the international community.

“Recognizing Palestine may lead to a series of protests across France,” said Boussois, adding that the move may damage Paris’s fragile relations with Israel and the United States.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/per...4/11/13/Will-France-recognize-Palestine-.html

I believe that this will be a question of time as France is home to the biggest Arab diaspora in Europe. About 4-5 million big. On the other hand you have the third biggest Jewish diaspora in the world in France and they are not without power either. But eventually I believe and hope that France will recognize Palestine.

We saw the reactions in France during the war crimes of Israel in Gaza this Summer.
 
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@al-Hasani

What will happen after they finish voting? And more nations adopt that? Will they take it to the UN?

The vote in the UK was not official but it showed that the majority are willing to recognize Palestine. Once a official vote takes place in the UK and France as well both countries will follow suit after Sweden.

I don't know if this will change anything on the ground (just heard that the Apartheid State built more illegal settlements in East Jerusalem) but at least it will show that important Western countries recognize Palestine and hopefully that will translate into political pressure on Israel.

I think that the key here is for the US to recognize Palestine. Now I wonder why this has not happened yet?

How can the US be a neutral party in this conflict if they are not even recognizing Palestine but are recognizing Israel? It makes no sense at all.

But hardly anything does in this world anymore….
 
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I agree, and we should theorize a lot if that Arab forum is created.

That forum, if it will become a reality, will hopefully be a forum were we can discuss everything honestly and were every opinion will be tolerated. I am not so sure about ISIS and their likes as many of us potential users and the owner (s) of that forum are based in countries were support of any kind for such organizations is illegal. It has a huge potential but we discussed that already in other threads.

Speaking about recognizing Palestine then I also hope that Denmark will recognize Palestine. Currently a left-wing government is ruling but there have been no steps in that direction yet.

A petition was made a few weeks about and it gathered 12.000 signatories in 2 days though.

Denmark Will Not Recognize Palestine, Says Country's PM
 
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That forum, if it will become a reality, will hopefully be a forum were we can discuss everything honestly and were every opinion will be tolerated. I am not so sure about ISIS and their likes as many of us potential users and the owner (s) of that forum are based in countries were support of any kind for such organizations is illegal. It has a huge potential but we discussed that already in other threads.

Speaking about recognizing Palestine then I also hope that Denmark will recognize Palestine. Currently a left-wing government is ruling but there have been no steps in that direction yet.

A petition was made a few weeks about and it gathered 12.000 signatories in 2 days though.

Denmark Will Not Recognize Palestine, Says Country's PM

I need to a create a Palestine related phone-app, like whenever there is a new boycott of Israeli products in any area it will send an alert to people located in a city/country where products are being boycotted or whenever there are petitions that benefit us it can spread out the news through alerts.
 
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I need to a create a Palestine related phone-app, like whenever there is a new boycott of Israeli products in any area it will send an alert to people located in a city/country where products are being boycotted or whenever there are petitions that benefit us it can spread out the news through alerts.

Remember my idea of creating a "Memri" like channel about Zionism and Israel? That should also become a reality. Most people are basically clueless about the radicalism displayed by official people in Israel while every time a Palestinian or Arab farts it becomes front page news. This should have been done ages ago. I mean why are such things not done? It cannot be a coincidence by now.

I wonder what is going on among the leadership and I wonder what kind of pressure they are under from powers such as the US. Somebody hack the US Department of State.:lol:
 
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Remember my idea of creating a "Memri" like channel about Zionism and Israel? That should also become a reality. Most people are basically clueless about the radicalism displayed by official people in Israel while every time a Palestinian or Arab farts it becomes front page news. This should have been done ages ago. I mean why are such things not done? It cannot be a coincidence by now.

I wonder what is going on among the leadership and I wonder what kind of pressure they are under from powers such as the US. Somebody hack the US Department of State.:lol:

You need to prepare for challenges. The moment we come up with effective media material is the moment lawsuits will be filed against us on charges of supporting terrorism. That's why most are afraid, but through social media it is more effective.
 
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Remember my idea of creating a "Memri" like channel about Zionism and Israel? That should also become a reality. Most people are basically clueless about the radicalism displayed by official people in Israel while every time a Palestinian or Arab farts it becomes front page news. This should have been done ages ago. I mean why are such things not done? It cannot be a coincidence by now.

I wonder what is going on among the leadership and I wonder what kind of pressure they are under from powers such as the US. Somebody hack the US Department of State.:lol:

For one thing, there aren't many people who know Hebrew that would be willing to undertake a project like that. I've studied Hebrew in the past (at a basic level), and there just isn't that much out there.
 
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Half of the "Palestine" does not recognize another half. :rolleyes: So what they are recognizing I really dont know.

Remember my idea of creating a "Memri" like channel about Zionism and Israel? That should also become a reality. Most people are basically clueless about the radicalism displayed by official people in Israel while every time a Palestinian or Arab farts it becomes front page news. This should have been done ages ago. I mean why are such things not done? It cannot be a coincidence by now.

I wonder what is going on among the leadership and I wonder what kind of pressure they are under from powers such as the US. Somebody hack the US Department of State.:lol:
Your idea is useless since Israeli media is doing that well itself. Not talking about Haaretz and Peace Now. In fact English Israeli pieces are often much more radical than Hebrew, since most radical settlers are new migrants.

There are some 2 million Arabs (1.6 million Israeli + hundreds of thousands PA) who know perfect Hebrew.
 
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Britain and France are in many ways less pro Arab than we were forty years ago. During Yom Kippur War Arab countries could use the oil weapon to pressure us into embargoing arms to Israel. Now that we have our own oil as well as the oil reserves in Norway, the US and Canada and the growth of Nigeria the potential for actions like this has lessened.
Public sympathy however is generally favourable to Palestinian statehood so this is probably why the vote went ahead. It will be on these grounds rather than hard headed national interest if more European countries make this move.
 
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Half of the "Palestine" does not recognize another half. :rolleyes: So what they are recognizing I really dont know.


Your idea is useless since Israeli media is doing that well itself. Not talking about Haaretz and Peace Now. In fact English Israeli pieces are often much more radical than Hebrew, since most radical settlers are new migrants.

There are some 2 million Arabs (1.6 million Israeli + hundreds of thousands PA) who know perfect Hebrew.

They are obviously recognizing the Palestinian state which is composed of the West Bank and Gaza.

Yes, Israelis do that but it would only be fair if Muslims had a MEMRI channel as well as there is plenty of material for such a channel.

Yes, every Arabic speaker could learn Hebrew relatively quickly and vice versa. After all both languages are Semitic languages and closely related.

Britain and France are in many ways less pro Arab than we were forty years ago. During Yom Kippur War Arab countries could use the oil weapon to pressure us into embargoing arms to Israel. Now that we have our own oil as well as the oil reserves in Norway, the US and Canada and the growth of Nigeria the potential for actions like this has lessened.
Public sympathy however is generally favourable to Palestinian statehood so this is probably why the vote went ahead. It will be on these grounds rather than hard headed national interest if more European countries make this move.

You are contradicting yourself. The governments are supposed to serve the people and the vast majority of all people in the West support a two-state solution and thus a recognition of Palestine as well as that of Israel which already has taken place. How can such a move damage any ties with Israel? In fact it should have the exact opposite reaction and help end this tiring conflict.

Besides the West, UK included, is obviously much more interested in having good ties with the 22 Arab countries and 450-500 million Arabs as the Arab world is home to the most natural resources in the world, extremely important geopolitically (hence all the meddling) and moreover has a 10.000 km long sea border with Europe (The Arab world has the longest Mediterranean coastline) aside from Europe having a big Arab diaspora.

I don't know about the trade volume between the UK and Israel versus the UK and the Arab world but I am willing to make a bet that the trade volume between the UK and KSA/UAE alone (let alone the entire GCC) is bigger than the trade volume between the UK and Israel. Much bigger.

I also know with certainty that there are more Arab billionaires in London and the UK than Israeli billionaires. Only Russians are close. In fact I know that we Arabians own many of the most luxurious apartments and land in London and the UK overall. Qatar alone has tremendous investments in the UK and a big political clout as well.


So from a political viewpoint UK would do a clever thing if they recognized Palestine but on the other hand I don't think that this move will change the close ties or damage them. Business is business and we Arabs know it better than most since we have done trade with the world for millenniums and when most entities of the world's entities of today did not even exist. UK obviously included here….
 
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Remember my idea of creating a "Memri" like channel about Zionism and Israel? That should also become a reality. Most people are basically clueless about the radicalism displayed by official people in Israel while every time a Palestinian or Arab farts it becomes front page news. This should have been done ages ago. I mean why are such things not done? It cannot be a coincidence by now.

I wonder what is going on among the leadership and I wonder what kind of pressure they are under from powers such as the US. Somebody hack the US Department of State.:lol:

Thats because Muslims believe Allah will do everything for them
 
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They are obviously recognizing the Palestinian state which is composed of the West Bank and Gaza.
West Bank is ruled by Fatah and Gaza is ruled by Hamas. They dont recognize each other.

So which one is "Palestine"?

Yes, Israelis do that but it would only be fair if Muslims had a MEMRI channel as well as there is plenty of material for such a channel.
No, there is no any material, is something was missed by Israeli mainstream media it would be reported by Haaretz, Peace Now, 972 Mag... If something was missed by those it would be reported by 2 million Arab Hebrew speakers inside Palestine and those Arabs who monitor Hebrew press regularly outside.
 
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