THE Scottish Government “can do more” to hold Israel accountable, a charity has said.
In a letter to John Swinney Amnesty International has called on the Scottish Government to recognise its own obligations following the recent advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice that Israel’s occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is unlawful.
The letter described as “disappointing” the fact that a recent meeting between Foreign Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson and Daniela Grudsky, the Deputy Ambassador for Israel to the UK, only became public after the Deputy Ambassador posted about it on social media.
It also calls on the First Minister to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the Scottish Government’s international activity and conduct a review of all of Scotland’s diplomatic, political and economic ties with Israel.
Neil Cowan, Amnesty’s Scotland director, said: "I note your decision to suspend any further engagement with Israel following the meeting, and also note the Cabinet Secretary’s subsequent statement.
“However, I would urge you to now make a broader assessment of whether the Scottish Government is doing all it can to ensure that Scotland is in no way contributing to the continuing crisis in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
He added: ““Israel is accused of very serious breaches of international law, including war crimes.
“It is not good enough that the public and others became aware of a meeting between the Scottish Government’s External Affairs Secretary and Ms Grudsky only because she posted about it on social media.
“As a government seeking to champion human rights, which has also publicly condemned the atrocities being carried out by Israel in Gaza, warm words are not enough. Accountability and action in these areas is urgently needed.
“For as long as the bombardment of Gaza, racist apartheid and illegal occupation continue, the Scottish Government must confirm that it has no intention of strengthening its ties with Israel and that it will use every lever available to it to increase international accountability for Israel’s actions.”
