THE LABOUR leadership “want to suppress any meaningful discussion” of Gaza at the upcoming party conference, according to a prominent campaigner.
Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to descend on the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Saturday, demanding that the new Labour Government puts a halt to all arms trading with Israel and an end to “all forms of UK complicity with genocide”.
But Ben Jamal, the director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign – who are helping to organise the protest and are hosting several events at the conference – said that he isn’t optimistic.
He told The National that PSC was not allowed by Labour officials to use the words “genocide” or “apartheid” in their description of their fringe meeting in the official conference guide.
Instead their event on Monday is listed simply as “Justice for Palestine”.
The campaigner also said that he expects the Labour hierarchy will “exert pressure” to ensure “meaningful” motions submitted on Gaza do not even get selected for debate.
“I think they want to really have minimal discussions [on Gaza],” he said.
“I expect, at best, [Foreign Secretary] David Lammy will give it a couple of lines and will make bland pronouncements again about the need for a ceasefire, for hostages to be released, and a political settlement. But not acknowledging the reality that the Israeli government has made it clear it’s not going to impose a ceasefire.”
Lammy recently announced the suspension of just 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel, leading to criticism from opposition parties including the SNP.
The decision came after a review found a “clear risk” that UK arms may be used in serious violations of international humanitarian law.
When asked what he thought of the Labour Government’s performance so far on the issue of Gaza, Jamal said it was going “poorly”.
“The vast majority of the world’s governments believe it is time Israel was held to account and sanctioned for repeatedly and flagrantly violating international law,” he said.
“The narrow band of governments that stand in the way of upholding international law shamefully includes our own.”
He added: “It is shocking and unacceptable that this government would remain actively complicit with a state that commits genocide and practices apartheid, but that is the case.
“That is why we bring our movement for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality to the Labour party conference.
“The wider labour movement, as demonstrated by the motion passed unanimously by the TUC at its recent congress, is calling for action to hold Israel to account including a full arms embargo.
“Opinion polls show that these demands are supported by members in the Labour party and by the wider public.
“This is a moral test for Keir Starmer and the Labour leadership. They need to stand up for the implementation of international law and be bold in confronting those who undermine it, no matter who they are.”
