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The Campaign for Socialism
(CfS), the Left of the Scottish Labour Party, adopted the following position
demanding action against Israel and for no military aggression against
Iraq following a meeting on Sunday 14th April. The meeting heard impassioned
pleas for action from Simon McFarlane of Scottish Friends of Palestine
and Glasgow City Councillor Bashir Maan.
Motion on the Middle East
'The CfS believes that
the current crises in the Middle East both in Palestine and the threatened
attack on Iraq have their roots in two interrelated injustices. The
US’s desire to control that region and the complicity of the US
and its allies in Israel’s oppression of the Palestinian people
in order to ensure Israel’s role as US proxy.
The US seeks complete
control over the oil resources in the Middle East and to that end will
support only regimes which offer complete conformance to US policy.
The supposed war on Terror is little more than a front for imperialism
by military means and consequently Israel as the main vehicle for delivering
that policy continues to be supported despite its denial of UN resolutions
and gross abuses of human rights. Similarly, Iraq is likely to be attacked
because the US cannot be certain the ruling Ba’athist Party will
ever submit to such compliance.
We call on the Labour
Party, its members and public representatives at all levels to call
on Israel to withdraw and for the creation of a viable Palestinian state.
We likewise call on the
above groups to oppose any attempt to attack Iraq and to press concerns
about human rights abuses and aggressive behaviour by any state through
the agreed international processes and mechanisms.
Specifically we ask that
the following actions are undertaken:
- That calls for the boycott
of Israeli goods be endorsed and supported by the Labour Party
- That the UK government
institutes and argues that the EU also institute trade sanctions against
Israel
- That the UK Labour
Party argues for the expulsion of the Israeli labour Party from the
Socialist International
- That Labour controlled
councils in towns and cities twinned or linked to Palestinian towns
and cities use those links to expose the nature of the current Israeli
assaults and to organise support for the Palestinian cause
- That Labour MEPs, MPs,
MSPs, councillors and members use their respective public and party
democratic forums to initiate and support motions calling for clear
assurances from The Labour Government that there will be no support
for any attack on Iraq.'
Commenting on the motion
CfS secretary Vince Mills said:
' It is clear that words
are not enough to constrain the war mongering of Israel and the United
States. We must take action. At the very least we must show our disgust
at the support the Israeli Labour Party is giving the bloodlust of the
Israeli government by throwing them out of the Socialist International.'
Contact Vince Mills on 0781
461 5224
The convener of the CfS is
John McAllion MSP Contact: 0131 348 5931 or 01382 466700
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