ANGUS Robertson apologised again at SNP conference for a meeting with a senior Israeli diplomat amid a protest outside the venue calling for his resignation.
The External Affairs Secretary faced backlash from SNP members – including calls for resignation – after a meeting last month with Daniela Grudsky, Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UK.
The Scottish Government has since said it will not meet with Israel again until “real progress has been made towards peace”.
But Robertson continues to face calls for resignation, with pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside the conference venue in Edinburgh on Sunday morning.
Robertson told delegates, as he opened a session on international relations, that he was “profoundly sorry”.
"As I have already said, I am profoundly sorry that any impression was given of any normalisation with the Israeli Government when in fact the priority of the Scottish Government was to communicate support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of all hostages, an end of UK arms being sent to Israel and a recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state within the two-state solution," he said.
When asked about his reaction to the protesters, Robertson (below) told journalists that he understands the “very strong feelings around what's happening in Gaza”.
“Indeed, what's been happening in the West Bank, which is hugely disconcerting for people. I understand that. I do think, however, it was right to tell the Israelis how strongly people in Scotland feel about that. And that message has been heard and understood,” he said.
“We're not going to be meeting them again until a ceasefire is secured in Gaza. This is what international relations is all about. Are there things that could or should have been done differently around the meeting? I've already said that I'm sorry for any impression that's been created of a normalisation of relations with Israel.”
Robertson added: “I've been speaking to a lot of SNP members within our BAME network, within our Scots Asians For Independence and affiliated organisations who have had very strong feelings around all of this because they do feel so strongly about what is happening to people in Gaza. It’s appalling and I agree with them.
“I think, though, that everybody appreciates the reasons why the meeting was held. To tell the Israelis how unhappy people in Scotland are about the situation, and we have no plans to be meeting them in the future until peace is secured.”
When asked whether he was considering his position, Robertson responded: “No.”
