A REFORM MSP has been condemned after she praised Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Holyrood chamber.
The Scottish Greens have described the comments as “utterly vile” and called for an apology.
Kim Schmulian made the remarks in the Scottish Parliament during a debate on Scotland’s priorities for the UK Budget on Thursday, telling MSPs that the UK could “learn much” from Israel’s approach to defence.
It comes as the Palestinian death toll from Israel's genocide in Gaza surpassed 74,000 last week, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Speaking in the Holyrood chamber, Schmulian, a Glasgow list MSP, acknowledged that other MSPs “might not like” Netanyahu’s politics but said Israelis “like the way in which he runs his economy and manages his complex democratic coalition”.
“It funds their defence and their technological supremacy, which we can all learn from,” she said.
Schmulian added: “There is also much that we can appreciate in Israel’s crucial Iron Dome.
“Parliamentary papers on defence have noted that the UK has gaps in its domestic missile defence, prompting calls for us to have a similar domestic shield against advanced drone and missile threats.
“We need it now. That spending should be non-negotiable, and we should be working with the Israeli government to achieve it.”
Her comments were immediately challenged by SNP public finance minister Hannah Mary Goodlad as she wound up the debate.
Goodlad said: “To give Netanyahu as an example of somebody who we should take lessons and learnings from – somebody who is a war criminal, perpetrating genocide on the people of Gaza – what planet is Kim Schmulian on?”
Schmulian (above) responded that she had not been able to finish her speech and said she had intended to explain her personal connection to Israel.
She told MSPs: “I would have gone on to explain why Israel is so important to me. I have family there. I am a Christian woman who has been married to a Jewish man for 33 years.”
Goodlad responded that “many of us in this Parliament have faith”, but said that was “absolutely no reason” to cite Netanyahu as an example in a debate on fiscal strategy, adding: “As politicians, we have a duty of care to act calmly and responsibly in response to global tensions, so I completely reject that comparison.”
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024, alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with Israel's genocide in Gaza.
Israel has repeatedly rejected the allegations and has disputed the court's jurisdiction. But now, Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay has also condemned Schmulian’s remarks and called for an apology.
“Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal, the last thing that Scotland and the UK should be doing is taking inspiration from Israel’s approach to defence,” Mackay said.
“Tens of thousands of people have been killed and many more displaced by an Israeli regime that has shown a total contempt for Palestinian lives.
“People across Scotland are horrified by Israel’s brutal bombing campaign and illegal settlements.”
She added: “For a Reform MSP to stand in the Holyrood chamber and praise Netanyahu and Israel’s defence system – which is being used to target Palestinian civilians – is utterly vile.”
Mackay went on: “The Scottish Parliament made history when MSPs passed Green proposals to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel, and the Scottish Greens have been working to make this as watertight as possible.
“This is the kind of action that Scottish voters expect from their politicians – not cosying up to Netanyahu and Israel, who have inflicted some of the worst war crimes of this century on the people of Gaza.
“Kim Schmulian and Reform should apologise for this disgraceful praise of Netanyahu.”
Reform UK have been approached for comment.
