Swinney's government must sanction Israel
The First Minister must announce concrete actions against Israel, rather than just more words, says Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer.
John Swinney’s statement to Parliament follows a letter from Ross setting out a suite of ways in which the Scottish Government could implement the global campaign of boycotts, divestments and sanctions against Israel and those who collaborate with it.
Ross' proposals include changing the law to let councils disqualify complicit companies from receiving contracts to provide services here in Scotland. He has also called for an end to grants for the arms dealers and other companies which have equipped Israel and for Ministers to hit these companies with penalties on their business rates. He gave the example of construction firm JCB, which has been identified by the United Nations as supporting the building of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.
The Scottish Greens co-leader has repeatedly highlighted the difference between the Scottish Government’s approaches to Russia and Israel. Immediately after Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 the Scottish Government issued guidance to all businesses in Scotland, urging them to ‘sever’ all links with Russia. Similar guidance has never been issued in relation to Israel, despite the First Minister recognising their ongoing assault on Palestine as a genocide.
Ross said:
“This First Minister has recognised that Israel’s actions amount to genocide, but his claim to be doing all he can to put pressure on them just isn’t true. This statement is his opportunity to change that and for the Scottish Government to start taking action. If a company is profiting from genocide, they should not get a penny more in grants or contracts here in Scotland.
“The Scottish Government should at the very least take the same approach to Israel as it did to Russia. In 2022 Ministers rightly made an immediate call for every Scottish business to ‘sever links’ with Russia. If you recognise Israel’s actions as a genocide, a similar economic boycott is the least you can do. Palestinian lives are worth no less than Ukrainians.
“All of the proposals I submitted to the First Minister are within the Scottish Government’s existing powers. Nothing is stopping them from implementing a policy of boycotts, divestments and de-facto sanctions against Israel and its collaborators.
“What Israel is doing to Palestine is one of the greatest crimes against humanity of this century. Every government and every leader across the world will be judged on how they respond to this atrocity. So far, the Scottish Government has been strong on words and lacking in action. I hope this is the day that changes.”