78 people died at Glencoe and we still sing about it over three hundred years later. Over 700 have been massacred so far in Gaza, 80% of them innocent civilians. The UN Human Rights Commissioner has made the very obvious, the unarguable, point that there is prima facie evidence of war crimes by Israel. These include the killing of four young boys playing football on the beach at Gaza, and the use of industrial nail bombs in civilian areas.
Yet the UK refused to support even having an investigation. Please note this was not a vote to condemn Israel, or to declare war crimes. It was a vote to have an investigation.
I am ashamed to belong to the UK. Just as having served the UK for twenty years and having worked my way up to be a proud British Ambassador, I became so ashamed at our complicity in torture and extraordinary rendition, I had to resign.
I want to be part of a country of which I am not ashamed
Now imagine that board with Scotland on it and a green light next to it.
This is the British Foreign Secretary. He declares that Israel “has a right to defend itself” and that for the UN to investigate Israeli war crimes is “unhelpful”.
This man does not represent me, or anything about me. Nor, emphatically, does that flag behind him.
Pleased to see my adoptive home there with a GREEN YES.
That man standing in front of the union jack is cowardly scum.
My sentiments entirely, Craig.
How can the civilised world stand by and allow this to continue:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/10984259/Revealed-the-Palestinian-children-killed-by-Israeli-forces.html
Scotland, vote YES and take your proper place on the world stage to help bring about a fairer, more equitable, decent world.
Nothing about Gaza on the front pages today with the exception of the ‘i’.
http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/7/23/325128/default/v2/i-1-329×437.jpg
It’s all about Peaches and the Commonwealth games today. They have moved on.
Nothing on the BBC front page apart from a link to a report ‘Hamas ties ceasefire to blockade’ and about a Red Cross vehicle being attacked.
Sky keep going live to Gaza to a very good young female reporter called Sherine Tadros whose reports are factual. One of her videos is on the website
‘A UN report claims one child has been killed in Gaza every hour on average for the last two days. Sherine Tadros reports on the young lives being lost.’
Sky also have this
‘Hammond: Israel ‘War Crimes’ Probe Unhelpful
Israel says it will continue hunting Hamas cross-border tunnels under a truce, as global efforts to end the conflict intensify.’
plus a breaking news item about the US resuming flights into Tel Aviv.
I’ve just listened to Baroness Amos being interviewed on the radio. She’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the UN. She couldn’t even bring herself to say the seige of Gaza should be lifted when asked. That’s what you get when some Western Baroness is appointed to a such a position.
Je
Amos is a Tony Blair groupie and a crook to boot. The last chapter of The Catholic Orangemen of Togo is about her profiting personally from the Sierra Leonean conflict and from DFID funds in Nigeria going to dead dodgy private investment companies – on which she pops up on the board after giving the money as Minister. A politician who has never in her life faced any popular election.
Amos. The search engine is good on this site. Two of the eight links that came up for ‘Amos’.
NuLab Freeloaders Steal From The Starving
http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2009/05/nulab_freeloade/
Yanukovich and Kabbah http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2014/03/yanukovich-and-kabbah/
A sorry state of affairs (to put it mildly and no pun intended). I too am ashamed that my country (Germany) abstained aswell.
Well, that’s ‘democracy’ for ya.
Craig, don’t you live in England?
I share your shame at what our government says and does most of the time and that’s why it’s important to remember the difference between governments and people.
Your desire to associate yourself completely with a government is leading you to an unsound position. You have created an image of this this imaginary ‘Scottish’ government that will agree with everything you believe in, remain entirely free of all corruption, command immense respect throughout the world and look after all of its residents come what may. It’s truly a lovely picture and I applaud the sentiment but it is a dream destined to disappoint not just you but a lot of “Yes” voters (who actually live in Scotland). What could make this truth any clearer than the fact that the dream is being championed by the wiley political fighter Alex Salmond?
A quick read of Amos’s Wikipedia page reveals her drive for power, her greed and ambition.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerie_Amos,_Baroness_Amos
I see she was also appointed High Commissioner to Australia in 2009. Does she still hold that post?
She is a director of Serious Trust Ltd. There are many entries for different companies with a Valerie Amos as director but I did not check them out.
http://www.serious.org.uk/about/serious-trust
No time for marriage or children. A career politician with an acquisitive nature.
I like the idea of a proud Scotland voting in favour of an investigation and maybe generally being on the right side. Problem is, what evidence does anyone have that the new Scottish state won’t simply fall in line with prevailing views? Note all the EU members voted as one (excuse me if I missed something, but that’s how it looked to me).
This is my only serious qualm about Scottish independence – capture by the same sort of moron that runs things in Westminster.
As a follow up to my comment…Even Ireland abstained. All those fine words last week and then an abstention. Pathetic.
From a friend just in.
I was sent this 3 mins ago on fb, no confirmation, please let it be wrong:
Maysam Yusef: #BREAKING: Israeli warplanes just bombed a medical clinic that belongs to Dr. Kamal Abu Rjeila who generously volunteered to treat injuries in Khuza’a town (south east of Gaza Strip). Khuza’a is currently under heavy artillery and aerial bombing and ambulances cannot reach injuries and the dead. At least one was killed and 30 injured in that bombing. Few moments later, they bombed the doctor’s house as a punishment.
Ban expresses condolences – to Israel:
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/07/22/372384/ban-expresses-condolences-to-israel/
~~
I just saw Hammond with Netanhayu. Brief statements. Blah. Blah.
Gould is very busy supporting the Israelis.
https://www.facebook.com/ukinisrael
I think Scottish independence is a con and that the bedrock of Scottish nationalism is dimwitted chip-shouldered anti-English xenophobia.
But if Alex Salmond and the SNP make a clear statement that an independent Scotland will not recognise the ethnic-supremacist ‘state of Israel’, and that it will not allow the Zionist organisation (for really there is only one) to operate in Scotland, I will reconsider how I cast my vote in September.
In 2009, Bolivia and Venezuela were beacons to the world. They shut down diplomatic relations with Israel, which have not been restored.
The first to do so was Bolivia, a country led by the first president to come from the country’s 80% indigenous majority.
Alex Salmond could make Scotland a similar beacon. He could oppose NATO membership. He could denounce the cultural influence of the United States. He could denounce Facebook as the CIA tool that it is. He could do many things.
He won’t.
All he’s got is nationalism. Yuck. And most Scots know it. That’s why in Scotland the vote he gets in Scottish elections is far far higher than what he gets in British elections.
I sometimes wonder whether anti-Zionists might apply en masse for citizenship of countries which do not stand idly by letting the ‘elephant in the dining room’ murder one Arab child every three days for 15 years and get their disgusting puppets to insist that they “have a right to defend themselves”. Countries such as Bolivia, Veneuzela, and of course Palestine itself.
It’s an open secret that the Palestinian cause has shit PR. I read an article the other day in an Arab newspaper describing France as the “first” country to ban anti-Israeli demonstrations. Many many articles answer the Israelis point by point. Anybody can tell you that that’s not how to do PR.
Maybe if 100,000 of us applied for and got Palestinian citizenship that might have a little bit of an effect?
“the vote he gets in Scottish elections is far far higher than what he gets in British elections”
– and I forgot to add that the turnout in Scotland is much higher in British elections than in Scottish elections.
Scottish people show by their actions that they consider Alex Salmond to be what he is – the leader of the local council.
I can only describe my feelings in one word for being a UK citizen. ASHAMED
Perhaps we could get a kind of status which would not allow permanent residence, because obviously there is the issue of the right of return of refugees and their descendants, and the last thing Palestine needs is mass immigration of people who have had no prior connection with the country.
The issue of whether or not Israeli Jews should be expelled from Palestine was recently mentioned here. Someone said they should. Craig then voiced the opinion that they shouldn’t, mentioning that white people weren’t expelled from South Africa upon the end of apartheid. (Talk about arguing by analogy!)
My position is that many should, and many shouldn’t.
A millionaire businessman with US citizenship, for example, who has recently made an “aliyah” to ‘Israel’ so as to benefit from another base, perhaps the main base, for his activities, should not be allowed to stay or to receive Palestinian citizenship.
There should be a de-Zionisation process that goes further than de-Nazification in Germany. Parties proposing the re-establishment of a Jewish-supremacist state should be banned. Kibbutzim (anyone who doesn’t know these are racist instititions should wake up and smell the coffee) should be expropriated. Schools etc. should be de-Zionised. Those found guilty of Zionist activities should, I suggest, be stripped of Palestinian citizenship.
Yes
I find your passion for the Palestinians admirable. What I can’t get over is the view that the Palestinian nation are entitled to a state but the Scottish nation are not. Also that your unproven assertion that a Scottish state would be Zionist outweighs the stone cold certainty that the UK state is Zionist. You attack Alex Salmond vitriolically but fail to make any case for the UK.
If you really want to not be part of the UK but presumably part of an independent Scotland), why have you not moved from Kent to Scotland in order to be able to vote for independence?
At any rate, if Scotland votes for independence, will you move there, so as not to be part of the UK?
I live in England. Hammond and his government (the “opposition” too) do not represent me. I reject strongly everything they and their Atlanticist, pro imperial, but vigorously flag waving, policies represent. Scottish nationalism (and nationalism is part of the toxic mix that sustains the UK government’s supposed legitimacy and authority) seems to assume that I am a fascist pig just because I live south of the border, and that cutting me adrift in an English nationalist pigsty will serve me right. But my principles and values have nothing to do with nationalism, and everything to do with human rights and the common good, regardless of borders. Scotland claims to want freedom from the neoliberal shackles of the global empire with all its blood soaked hypocrisy and duplicity – I can get behind that. But it has nothing to do with national flags and national pride.
Please use your passion and courage to help bring about the change in the UK that is needed – rather than supporting division. There are many, many in England as well as Scotland who think the same as you do about this.
By not voting they are ratifying and approving a Warsaw like ghetto and the killing innocent civilians. Everything that is happening in politics is only for the benefit of the isreali Zionist agenda , the politicians have been bought or have been brainwashed by the Zionist ideals .
Everything that is happening in Middle East all the wars and coups is facilitated by the CIA Mossad and mi6 , how many wars has us and uk been in last ten years compare that with the likes of Iran who is the real warmonger and terrorist
You can mention al Qaeda and Hezbollah and isis but all these are funded train ineed by Zionist to push out their propaganda. Uk is been sold out for isreal
Abe Rene
At the moment I am in Spain. I may move to Ghana. I do not know why you think citizens of any country should be locked in to it.
I shall certainly be taking Scottish citizenship. I may very likely move to Scotland. But why you think that where Craig Murray lives has any impact on the viability of a Scottish state I cannot tell. As I have frequently made clear, I am an internationalist who believes that freedom of movement, particularly within the EU, is a great boon.
Kate
There are many in England who think as I do – but they are a much higher percentage of the population in Scotland, and Scotland has an electoral system which allows the Scottish Socialist Party and the Green Party much more present influence and exposure and future opportunity than their counterparts enjoy in England.
But I believe that the departure of Scotland will be a massive kick to the English political system, that makes people realise change is possible. Those in England who want more than a choice between four neo-con parties I believe stand to gain from the vigorous shaking of the kaleidoscope that Scottish independence will give.
I share the shame of everyone here of the British governments refusal to even investigate these obvious war crimes, on a par with changing the law on universal jurisdiction to protect Livni and other alleged Israeli war criminals entering the UK. Having said that, the Palestinian leadership themselves are failing their people by refusing to formally sign up for membership of the ICC [to achieve standing] Yesterday Riad Malki, the Palestinian foreign minister, appealed to the international community to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza. “How many martyrs must die before Israel puts an end to its aggression?” The question that he needs to answer is how many must die before he and Abbas insist the Prosecutor at the ICC open an investigation into the situation in Occupied Palestinian Territory? With the first complaint being article 49.6 of the Geneva conventions and the corresponding article 8 of the ICC[UK Act 2001] dealing with the transfer of citizens of the occupier into occupied territory, this should be a slam dunk since the International Court of Justice [World Court] in 2004 has already given its opinion on this matter 15 judges to 0. Unfortunately President Abbas recently told the New York Times “I don’t like to go to the courts. I don’t like courts. I want to solve my problems directly between the parties”, this when a majority of the other Palestinian leadership members including Arekat and 17 NGO’s wanted Abbas to formally sign on to the ICC. Even the Prosecutor at the ICC said she is waiting for the Palestinians [“the ball is in their court”] but the collaborator Abbas will not move.Has he now changed his mind? I doubt it.
This may be of interest. Russia prepares to develop Gaza gas field.
http://www.robinwestenra.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/war-and-natural-gas-israeli-invasion.html
Excellent argument Craig – I too am ashamed and right now if I thought Scotland would gain independence I would be looking over Loch Fyne with my long lost daughter from Inveraray.
I simply cannot imagine a screen with Scotland on it with a green light next to Scotland.
I should like to believe what you claim to imagine but it is simply inconceivable. No European country voted ‘Yes’, no member of NATO voted ‘Yes’. Scotland will wish to be seen as reliable partner in both these organisations, I cannot believe that a Scottish government would have chosen to vote in this way.
Vronsky
Would be good if it were true, but sadly it is complete bullshit. Russia, like many others, has simply marked its interest in Gazan gas AFTER a “settlement”. Not a hope in hell the Russians will develop it without Israeli agreement.
Philip
The UK is the loudest voice within the EU arguing for a blindly pro-Israeli position. The balance is finer than you might think.