Scotland uniquely has no commonalities with Israel

By Professor John Robertson OBA

Why have I resigned from the SNP and joined the Scottish Socialist Party?

That image of Angus Robertson with the Depute Ambassador of Israel and her claim that they had discussed ‘unique commonalities’ between Israel and Scotland, has been a tipping point for me and days later I resigned my membership of the SNP. I don’t think I was alone.

I know Angus has not reiterated those suggestions of commonalities but neither has he rejected them. Indeed, he has defended himself by pointing to Scottish Labour’s clear associations with Israel as if that somehow makes it OK.

What might those commonalities be? War crimes, collective punishment, an apartheid society, genocidal activity? You could argue some commonalities, I suppose, with the former imperial powers such as Britain or with Russia, China and the US, but Scotland?

Well, I suppose, as recently as the late 13th Century, only 700 plus years ago, William Wallace did burn Northumbrian villages and, allegedly, killed monks and nuns.

That twitter post was a tipping point so what had happened before to lead me toward that point?

In November 2016, only a year after joining the SNP, I was close to resigning after sending this to Nicola Sturgeon:

“I write to protest in the strongest terms your public endorsement – ‘I’m with her’ – of US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. For the record, I trudged the streets putting ‘I’m with Nicola’ leaflets through hundreds of doors.

I am appalled that you think it appropriate to use your position to express support for such a deeply flawed, corrupt, malignant, politician and by implication, associate me, SNP members and other Scots, with your, hopefully, ill-informed personal views.

Hillary Clinton is on record as being opposed to Scottish independence but, worse, she is a well know foreign policy ‘hawk’. She was instrumental, recently, in a series of anti-democratic acts in Honduras, Palestine and Libya. Who can forget seeing her sitting applauding the torture, rape and murder of President Gaddafi, guffawing and exclaiming: ‘We came, we saw, he died?’ This woman is like many leading politicians in larger militaristic, expansionist nations, a cruel psychopath. Is it really enough for you that she is a woman? Will any woman do?”

Before joining the SNP in January 2016, after nearly 40 years in education where I had felt party membership inappropriate for any academic, the acceptance of NATO membership and Nicola Sturgeon’s 2015 US visit, to align Scotland with US foreign policy positions, had held me back but I felt only the SNP could, from the left of Labour, achieve independence and, on the way, implement at least some progressive policies in taxation and benefits. They have achieved quite a lot in these fields including, of course, the transformative, world leading, Child Payment but I fear for the future with Kate Forbes close to power and apparently popular with much of the membership.

Then in 2018, I was deeply angered again by Sturgeon’s recommendation that we buy and read a book by the war criminal Henry Kissinger and her frankly shocking praise for Madeline Albright. Albright managed the genocidal sanctions on Iraq in the 1990s and when asked about the resulting death of over half a million Iraqi children, said that “the price is worth it”.

In more recent times, I’ve watched, deeply concerned, at the rise of Kate Forbes, a religious fundamentalist homophobe who would drag women’s rights back to the level of Alabama in the 1950s.

Then, finally, in the last few days, Angus Robertson knew well what he was doing. He senses the rightward drift of the party leadership and felt safe enough to do it. He has not resigned. Shockingly, given his family’s direct and traumatic experience in Gaza, Humza Yousaf has not condemned Robertson. That, in itself, is as disturbing as Robertson’s actions and, together with them, tells me it is time to go.

Why the SSP, the Scottish Socialists? Have a look at their wiki page, consider their policy aims and tell me one you disagree with.

The OBA – https://scotsindependent.scot/?page_id=116

Discover more from Talking-up Scotland

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

16 thoughts on “Scotland uniquely has no commonalities with Israel”

  3. I’ve followed your blog for years John and have always appreciated the time and effort you put in to your posts, especially when shedding a positive light about events and decisions in Scotland. You’ve clearly had your doubts about SNP decisions for some time and owe no explanation for your change of support

    For me there have been times of doubt or disagreement over the years but I don’t feel strongly or annoyed enough to leave the SNP. In fact I have deliberately tried to stay clear of personality politics, all political heroes are of our own making and the discovery of clay feet all the harder for being self inflicted. I admired both Alex and Nicola in their day but never expected either to be perfect, I support the SNP because I see it as the best political party option to gain independence, but I don’t expect it or it’s politicians to reach higher standards than any other organisation or individual

    My biggest fear is not just that the Unionist tactic of kicking the can down the road (now is never the time) has been successful in leaving time for doubts to creep in, cracks to widen, support to fracture. All here know only too well the draining effect of the constant media negativity and the toll it has taken on indy supporters. I also fear that maybe we aren’t up for the task, that we haven’t the discipline, energy and commitment to keep working together. But I hope that this little community you have built will keep talking despite our differences, we’ve learned a lot from each other I think

    brobb

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

  4. Thanks John. Yes we are in deep trouble when the SNP alighn themselves with these dreadful regimes. Why the heck do politicians in power and their jobsworths stand with others who are obviously to be avoided at all costs. Is it money? Power corruupts and the SNP are not immune to that. I fear for Scotland, even more now with UKEngGovs’ pals waging terror on the people of Palestine etc. It’s almost always the wrong people who rise to the top. I despair and worry for the future.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. I have not always agreed with SNP policy’s or people they have met with but my worry is that if we fracture who among other parties with enough votes for independence could gain control at Holyrood for us I for one will always vote SNP and I only hope we could all get together for Scotland’s sake.

    We have this Salmond v Sturgeon coming from BBC which the Unionists will lap up why not one about Corbyn v Stammer.

    Like

    Reply

  6. And yet the SNP, as a party, has been steadfast in it’s condemnation of Israel, calls for a ceasefire, and the end to exports of arms shipments.

    Unfortunately, they were rather naive, not for the first time when it comes to realpolitik, when it came to dealing with the Israeli government. The latter having a history of skilfully spinning stories to put other parties at a significant disadvantage whilst furthering their own agenda. Who knows, this successful portrayal of the SNP as somehow being in cahoots with Israel (despite the obvious silliness of that position as exemplified by my first paragraph) is a real bonus for the zionist/unionist parties at Westminster.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Robertson condemnation by SNP members shows the majority do not back such a poor decision. Politicians have to talk to strange people. The foray will convey what people thought of the decision.

      Once again condemned throughout Scotland and the rest of the world. Even Israeli citizens are protesting against the war criminal Netanyahu. The hostages families are opposing the actions on Gaza. Deliberately being carried out to try and keep criminal Netanyahu in power. He is up on criminal charges. Trying to change the judiciary. The people are not supporting his actions.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  8. Kate Forbes has a right to have her comments heard . I feel that she is being castagated for her Christian beliefs that many people still hold and that we are being forced by a minority to behave and believe in ridiculous theories that there are more than two sees. Your either a man or a woman it’s a physical and medical fact.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.