As was widely reported in the media last night, the UK has joined Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in imposing sanctions against extremist Israeli politicians Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. These two are far-right members of the Israeli cabinet who the UK has now said have “incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights”.
I am sure that is true.
And the sanctions are welcome, but they hardly seem sufficient.
Why isn't every Israeli Cabinet minister sanctioned? These two have not waged war by themselves.
Why are we still selling arms to Israel if we know this to be the case?
Why is the RAF still flying reconnaissance flights for Israel?
Why aren't we sanctioning Israel?
Why aren't we calling what has been happening in Israel genocide?
Why aren't we making it clear that all involved have committed war crimes?
Why aren't we withdrawing our ambassador?
There is so much more that could be done, and still we are trading in token gestures.
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This all very simple.
This is Neo-liberal politics – The Third Way – it’s politics not getting in the way of vested interests like weapons markets and other money making opportunities and extractive ‘investment’/down payment claims for the rich.
Agreed
Because we have allowed our politics to be hijacked by Zionism?
It’s complicated.
You can see Zionism as a worship of real estate using the word of God as an excuse to take land belonging to others. It’s an abuse of God’s word in my view, and I’m an atheist!
But the Nazi’s more or less did the same for ‘living space’ or ‘Lebensraum’ with ‘God is with us’ on their soldiers belts in the late 1930’s and up to 1945 as they kicked out and killed off people (including millions of Jews) whose land they coveted. We also know that the Nazi’s made a huge amount of money out of their cruelty having watched how the Americans had seized their country from the Indians and used slave labour to drive their economy. American history is a history of theft – of things and rights – and the genesis of Neo-liberalism can be found in the slave trade and those southern states. That is why Neo-liberalism puts the rights of capital before human rights.
The parallels between the two/three are almost too uncomfortable to bear.
At the end of the day whether it is Neo-liberalism, Zionism or Nazism, it all seems like a load of genocide to me.
Do you think some MPs should push for military intervention against Israel?
No
That will not solve the problem when fiancial and economic sanctions could
Plues the end of military cooperation
Thank you and well said, Richard.
May I bring this community’s attention to: https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-civil-concern-support-israel-gaza-palestine-resign-foreign-office-david-lammy/. This did not happen in the Eden, Thatcher, Blair and Johnson years when officials disagreed with government policy. This note follows instructions from Lammy that officials and service personnel are not to seek legal advice about action in support of Israel.
This community may also be interested in: https://alethonews.com/2024/04/27/supporters-of-the-racist-ideology-of-zionism-operating-inside-the-uk-civil-service/. This network acts as a gatekeeper and spy. During the Johnson years, it had an official at No 10, someone I worked with during the 2008 crisis. This former official, whose father in law is a well known business journalist, is not mentioned by Miller.
Further to ben Gvir and Smotrich, the former is Iraqi and the latter a Russian speaking Ukrainian.
Thanks for drawing attention to this.
Appreciated.
And it’s appalling.
The post in the alethonews raises the question: is Uk policy formulation (in all its apsects) for the benefit of UK citizens, or, at least when it comes to affairs outside of the UK, for the benefit of Israel?.
The impression gained is that those mentioned in the article seem to put the interests of Israel first and those of the UK very much second. They seem to have maneouvered the UK LINO gov into a position where it supports genocide. Quite apart from anything else, this puts UK citizens at risk (ref: what happened in London, post Iraq). As for religious celebrations – they should have no place in the civil service. None.
Thank you and well said, Mike.
Former ambassador Oliver Miles warned about that during the run up to the invasion of Iraq. He was forced out of the Foreign Office and off air.
Last year, I chatted with a retired Treasury official. He explained that “Arabists” were forced out of the State Department and Foreign Office from the 1970s onwards.
I agree the whole current cabinet plus those who have been members – but have since departed -since 8 October 2023 should be sanctioned, and should have been many months ago.
Lord William Hague made an interesting justification yesterday on Times Radio, speaking as a former Foreign Secretary, as why the U.K. Government declines to call the ongoing massacre of civilian Palestinians in Gaza as a Genocide. He said that were they to declare Israeli Government actions as a Genocide under the 1948 Genocide Convention it would trigger mandatory legal actions by the Government.All Israeli ministers would be personae no grata, and ministers would not be permitted to use back-channel pressure on their Israeli counterparts to halt military action. I do not know if I am convinced, but it was Hague’s explanation.
So back channels are more important than children dying?
And the whole point about back channels (about which I know a bit for reasons I can’t disclose) is that they are ‘off the record’
As I said, I am not convinced by Hague justification. It sounds like the kind of logical construction the Foreign Office would erect to self justify non action
Agreed
“…ministers would not be permitted to use back-channel pressure on their Israeli counterparts to halt military action.”
If they have been doing this, it’s had precisely no effect. Or is Hague implying that they haven’t yet felt the need to exert such pressure? Really??
Apparently Lammy has now told FO underlings that official FO statements/speeches are NOT to be put through for legal clearance.
Presumably because they wouldn’t get it. (source – Canary)
Also has been suggested that large number of FO staff who don’t like current gov policy (and wrote a joint letter to say so) should consider resigning. (source – Guardian)
I consider PM Starmer & For.Sec. Lammy, to be legally complicit in war crimes, for “failure to prevent” genocide. I don’t see any room for doubt about that.
I listened to Falconer making his excuses yesterday. It was shameful. I utterly fail to see why he is still in post. He is, IMHO, complicit in Israel’s war crimes.
As IANAL I won’t opine on other issues around genocide, but I can’t see any expert/informed/legally competent bodies around the world who aren’t totally clear about Israel committing war crimes including genocide. I’m with the 800 senior lawyers who wrote to government about it.
So I regard every member of the gov’t from PPS’s upwards, as complicit in those crimes.
I would also include every Labour MP who has remained silent on the issue.
I would also expect Mr. Speaker to actively co-operate in any backbench attempts to force some sort of vote on the matter, binding or otherwise, for example, on the recognition of Palestine. Time for another “humble address?
If Mr. Speaker, whose responsibility is to the House and to backbenchers, not to HMG, fails to do this, then he too is, IMHO, complicit in Israel’s crimes.
As for the Attorney General, he should have resigned long ago and given a clear public explanation of his reasons. IMHO he too is complicit.
The last time I felt like this about HMG was the invasion of Iraq by the Bush/Blair international war crime syndicate known as the “coalition”.
Life, and politics, are usually complicated. But sometimes they are very simple, and the “it’s complicated” explanation is just utter bull****.
This is one of those times.
Corbyn has a bill that passed first reading on 4 June for an independent public enquiry into UK government involvement in Israeli military operations in Gaza .
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-06-04/debates/30BC4F6C-5B9E-4BA4-AD5C-E03DD2384251/Gaza(IndependentPublicInquiry)
Second reading due 4 July. The final line of Corbyn’s speech was: ” If the Bill is agreed to—I hope that it will be—this will be a step forward in opening up the murky history of what has gone on, with murky arms sales and complicity in appalling acts of genocide.”
I would argue that the fact the bill was passed for first reading after those words were spoken, that the house has taken the firststep to acknowledging that Israel is committing genocide.
It’s a start!
I very much doubt it will get a second reading…
Corbyn’s 10 minute rule bill is well down the list, and has zero chance of a 2nd reading unless the ones ahead of it are withdrawn. 10 minute Bills are routinely nodded through on 1st reading. The “no” shouts against Corbyn’s bill were from SUPPORTERS, (pro Palestine Independents, new to Parliament,) to try and force a division there and then, to embarras Labour MPs who would then have had to vote on the record, against an inquiry, or, at risk of terminal party discipline, FOR one. But when Madam Deputy Speaker told them that verbal “Nos” had to be followed by Lobby “Nos “, they gave up and the 1st reading went through on the nod with the traditional “the ayes have it, I think the ayes have it” as per precedent. 99.9% probability it goes no further. I really hope I’m wrong there.
It’s v difficult for back benchers to force binding votes on the Commons. I wonder whether someone may try a “humble address” manouevre, but that isn’t binding. Most things can be blocked by the Speaker and there is some suggestion he was nobbled by Starmer BEFORE July 2024 GE, and threatened with removal by a new Labour government, to get his support for a manouevre involving prioritising a Labour opposition amendment over an SNP one. So I am not hoping in him.
Basically, the position is Labour MPs must never be allowed opportunities to vote harmlessly against the Starmer government. The Whips will use all means to dissuade MPs from doing that, up to and including expulsion from PLP, or simply the threat of deselection before 2029. Its already been used, usually on MPs who combine the fatal female/leftie/young/Muslim combo that brings McSweeney out in a rash. (The grey haired grim lady staring at Falconer during both his recent appearances is one of the Whips)
But all that is “precedent” and this situation is fairly UNprecedented, it’s about genocide and corruption, wilful muder, & war crimes, so one does have a tiny shred of hope that humans who still have warm blood pumping round their bodies and some tiny remnant of humanity left, might not want to be on the same sidr of history as the world’s war criminals, even though a fair proportion of that exclusive club have been and are UK parliamentarians and military leaders.
So if you havent yet written to your MP to tell them you regard them as personally complicit in war crimes, please do so. The sanctioning of 2 extremist terrorist Israeli government ministers does not let MPs off the hook at all – that was 100% performative hypocrisy.
Back bench Labour MPs CAN make a difference. Instead of Starmer threatening THEM, they can threaten to remove HIM at a PLP meeting. They did it to Corbyn, after all. Starmer and McSweeney know EXACTLY how THAT game works.
Unfortunately, this time it depends on finding 40-60 Labour MPs with functioning consciences and a tiny bit of political courage..
Please prove me wrong.
Thank you, and appreciated.
And much to agree with.
I doubt there have been many times so many professional foreign policy staff have given such a warning about our involvement in Palestine.
The report tells -about half way down-this is the “fourth such document’. These are people who know what they are talking about.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8nzx1475ro
I had a look at the Daily Mail comments. They were overwhelmingly hostile to Greta Thunberg and the issue. It is sad that we have so many people who think that way.
By accident I saw her interview on France 24 who gave her quite a bit of time. She does answer questions.
One question was about the boat. “it was the only one we had. The previous one was bombed in international waters.’ She didn’t accuse Israel but I don’t think it was the Martians.
After the last two years we are no longer surprised by this inadequate response.
At the outset we knew the vested interests involved, including the Labour Friends of Israel influence.
But few of us would have predicted the massacring of 60000 plus, utter destruction and laying waste 80% of Gaza and all schools hospitals universities, and a medieval siege and mass starvation of 2 million.
I dreaded Israel’s response – but on past history expected the toll taken would be around ten to one, not 80 or 100 to one. And not the blockade and starvation in plain sight.
And least of all – the standing-by and even collusion of the UK, Europe and the US.
But now we know – ‘never again’ is ancient history – we now know this UK govt will not stop colluding in international war-crimes and possible genocide, and we are not surprised at the purely performative response by Lammy and co.
A small ray of sunshine:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/06/10/749566/Israel-companies-decline-economy-war-Gaza
extract:
“Israeli companies are reportedly facing a sharp decline in attracting customers worldwide, in the wake of the global community’s growing reluctance to buy from them following the launch of the war of genocide on the Gaza Strip. ”
I urge all to look VERY carefully at products. If in doubt don’t buy. If nobody bought any Israeli products anywhere, Net&yahoo and his gang would be gone very quickly. Then, continuing the no-buy campaign would get the Israelis to understand that what counts is not weapons, but money & the willingness of those outside Israel to buy their bloodstained products. Personally, I will never knowlingly buy anything from Israel ever again. Ever. For me, the country does not exist.
I will consciously avoid all Israeli goods now.
Thank you, Richard.
The biggest farm in Israel is operated by the children of the late Arik Sharon. As the family needs cheap labour, they were exempted when Palestinians were intermittently barred from Israel.
Israeli farms now get south and south east Asian labour. There are some Africans, but Israeli society does not want many “schvartzes” around.
My former employers HSBC and Deutsche operate in Israel.
Not only farms. The ubiquitous yellow dish cloth that many will have in their kitchens is manufactured in Israel. We need to check everything.
I don’t have one of them.
Boycott-Israel.org have a useful list of both goods and services.
Plenty of words from Lammy but NO EFFECTIVE ACTION. I suspect that at least some of the military hardware being supplied by the UK to Israel is enabling Israeli bombers to stay in the air and carry out the bulk of the devastation in Gaza.
I would recommend to anyone who wants to get a good understanding of the situation over past decades and now listens to 5 jewish men.
1. Professor of history at Oxford University – Avi Shlaim. Born Baghdad 1945.
2. Professor of international studies at Exeter University Ilan Pappe. Born Israel 1954.
3. Gideon Levy – Israeli journalist.
4. Noam Chomsky – American academic.
5. Norman Finkelstein – American academic.
I decided to look for information from jewish people as it would be more difficult to accuse them of anti semitism.
Before Gaza I knew very little of the situation. It is very difficult to get information from UK mainstream media and I had to resort to the internet – mainly youtube.
The Question of Palestine is a very lengthy and detailed UN 2-part document covering the development of Israel as a state from 1917-1947 and from 1947 onwards. It quotes extensively from parliamentary records, which sounds as if it could be boring but in fact is anything but, so shocking is it.
Pep Gardiola, has spoken out honestly and powerfully about Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine, while getting an honorary degree at Manchester Uni… on 9th June
https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2025/06/11/pep-guardiola/?__s=6squ6bjtxophyfzgvnew
This story has not got the coverage it deserves because of active editorial censorship by genocide supporters, so please spread it about. I love the fact that he chose an honorary degree award ceremony. Had he been an undergrad getting their Bachelors degree I suspect Manchester Uni would have taken the degree away for the crime of telling truth to power. But they can hardly do that to Gardiola’s honorary degree. Hopefully his words will find themselves plastered all across the Uni and elsewhere, and students graduating can quote them verbatim at their own ceremonies. Pep has cheered me up (I know almost nothing about football).
Strangely, the BBC Sport reporter forgot to include his remarks in their coverage despite “Palestine” being a regular issue at football matches at some very big clubs.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cev4w42pzk9o
ITV didn’t report the Gaza remarks either. It wasnt on the AP Report.
But the Daily Express noticed, and reported and quoted his remarks without adverse comment. Interesting!
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/2066721/Pep-Guardiola-Gaza-Man-City
and so did S Africa of course,
https://iol.co.za/sport/soccer/premier-league/2025-06-10-manchester-citys-pep-guardiola-speaks-out-against-gaza-atrocities-after-receiving-honorary-doctorate/
and https://themanc.com/sport/pep-guardiola-given-an-honorary-degree-by-university-of-manchester/
reported his Gaza comments.
Check out the blatant censorship by looking at these urls…
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=pep+gardiola+honorary+degree&t=fpas&ia=web
The big powerful bullies are scared, because the dyke they built to hold back the truth about genocide is leaking and they are running out of fingers fast.
Thanks