I suspect Keir Starmer was not happy that President Macron of France said this to both Houses of Parliament yesterday, referring to Gaza:
As we are attached to human lives, as we are attached to territorial and integrity, we want a ceasefire, no discussion.
And today, working together, in order to recognise the state of Palestine and to initiate this political momentum is the only path to peace.
Three things. First, Starmer clapped, but I do not take that as an indication of commitment.
Second, does a two-state solution really make sense when what is Palestinian is not defined?
Third, if recognition does, however, mean that Israel is engaged in an illegal war against Palestine and resulting measures are taken, including full economic sanctions as called for by Francesca Albanese to the UN, then this might have some substance.
But, I am probably living in forlorn hope.
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I was surprised -but gratified- that the head of the IDF reportedly (in the Times) had a stand-up row with Netanyahu in refusing to implement the Defence Minister Katz’s outrageous and illegal plan to recreate the Warsaw ghetto in Rafah in southern Gaza by corralling 800,000 Palestinians into a tiny enclosed area before pressuring them to
(in-)voluntarily leave Gaza altogether to get away from hell on earth.
Kemi Badenoch did not clap.
There is an unholy alliance between the front benches.
But I speculate, perhaps Starmer wants to break free of an increasingly unpopular position. Macron might him an opportunity to do so or just produce another fudge.
I live in hope too.
I work with somebody that is married to a jew. They have come around to the idea that the only solution is a single country – palestinians and jews together. This could have been possible in say 1947, but far too much blood has flowed since then, mainly due to the actions of the Israelis who clearly since 1948 wanted a “greater israel”. The pac-man actions by Israel to date (west bank and gaza, syrian parts of the golan heights, Lebanon……) show that this is very much on the agenda.
The end point is likely to be a quasi-slave population of gentiles serving Israeli jews in a greater israel. For those that think is hyperbole on my part:
http://www.palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=16474
Jonathan Cook details the attitudes of rabbis (and the educational process for israeli jews) – it accounts for much that is going on now. Quoting one rabbi:
“Ovadia Yosef, a former chief rabbi of Israel “Goyim [non-Jews] were born only to serve us.” Explaining why God allowed non-Jews long lives, he added: “Imagine that your donkey would die, you’d lose your income. [The donkey] is your servant. … That’s why he [the gentile] gets a long life, to work well for the Jew.”
Jonathan Cook is very reliable.
The two state solution is the only way old Europe, a Europe in touch with history, can come to terms with what it has enabled.
Neo-liberals like Starmer MAKE history – they do not learn from it and care little for it. But it is not even making history, it is making money. That is social, human advancement as defined by Neo-liberalism.
Mirowski was right.
It may just be semantics, but can we please stop calling the annihilation of the people of Palestine a war. A war is fought between 2 sides who both, theoretically have a chance to win, or to surrender. The Israeli government is not fighting a war. It is committing genocide. Words matter.
The two state solution is long since dead. Destroyed by the murderous Zionists. A single state where all the population have equal rights, irrespective of their religion, or lack of, is the only possible path to peaceful coexistance. The entire original concept of a Zionist state as a supposedly ‘safe’ space for Jews is nonsensical. Leaving aside the canard that Jewish people would be at risk if they were to stay in their native countries around the world, it would actually be far easier to eliminate Jews as a people/race/tribe (however they are, or wish to be described), if they all congregate in one part of the world. One massive nuclear bomb would do it.
Edward Said – showed that from the outset the ‘two state solution’ was set up to fail. Israel and now US trying to make any ‘solution’ unfeasible and look to be intent on bribing neighbouring states to take all Palestinians pushed out of Greater Israel.
Even Helena Kennedy now saying it is a genocide.
As for Starmer – apparently there is a meeting between ministers and Israel ambassador and a memo saying BBC is antisemitic from top to bottom.
Govt and us – complicit in war crimes
Living in the 1930’s.
The State visit was absolutely irrelevant .Macron has no public support in his country. Starmer the same. As for Charles he is an anachronism. Covered in medals . For what? Never done a days work in his life. UK military are participating in genocide. Our planes fly hundreds of sorties from Cyprus gathering intelligence which is given to Israel in order to pinpoint the whereabouts of men ,women and children for slaughter. Our government refuses to recognise the crime as genocide. Macron blames Hamas for the killings in Palestine. Hamas is the modern day equivalent of the French resistance. Were they terrorists ? He thanks Britain for its help in WW2. The pivotal role played by Russia is unmentionable. Yet my Dad who fought in the Far East was adamant it was they who we had to thank for our very existence. Macron also fails to inform us that most of Africa refuses to give support to the West in Ukraine. France recently has been booted out of African nations after decades of French robbery. The State visit has been a failed exercise in persuading the people to prepare for war . It wont happen. The civilian population will not accept war . our country needs funding for the improvement of living conditions .Not for the arms industry.
Recognition of Palestine as a state is an important first step. Let’s focus on that first and foremost.
A 2-state solution is possible, but only if the rest of the world believes in it. Plus some kind of toothy global organisation would need to monitor the newly-created states and inevitably form some kind of buffer zone a-la Cyprus.
I guess, much like the free-market theory, it can only exist in textbooks whilst realpolitik says “think of a workable solution instead”.
Stop Israeli genocide. This isn’t a war, Palestine must be re-established and Israel put back in it’s box.
It was surprising to hear of Macrons overture re. a Palestine state. What are his motives? Not sure how popular/unpoular he is in France but know Starmer is hitting bottom; maybe they both think it will make them popular again… which I think it would but not with the US who no doubt would slap on tariffs and sanctions.. the US wages more economic war than ever throughout the world. Whatever the reason Macron should be supported. And if the BBC is supposedly anti-Semitic? They have kept it well hidden. Everyone is terrified of the US to the point of abandoning decency and international law. We should all be ashamed. I am hoping that once this “war” is over there can be a global effort to set up some kind of permanent memorial like Israel has done to commemorate the Holocaust where the whole world can see and understand the history and brutality of Israel’s genocide in Palestine. Start off with squashed ambulances…..
The government is waiting for the “appropriate moment” to recognise Palestine.
I suspect that means:
a) when it is totally impossible for Palestine to exist. For Gaza that is already, for E Jerusalem and W Bank, there is more ethnic cleansing, land appropriation, unlawful detention, murder, and barrier erection required, which is under way right now and accelerating.
b) When Starmer/Lammy need to be looking as if they care about the extinction of a people and culture (which they clearly don’t), then, recognising Palestine will make it look as if they are being tough on their “bestie” Netanyahu and his war criminal government.
c) When not to do so would risk them looking rather isolated.
d) When Tony Blair tells them to (primarily when TBI can see some financial gain in it for himself).
If recognition would help the Palestinian cause, Starmer/Lammy will avoid it, until it is safely irrelevant and impossible.
“Christian” Europe ran pogroms and genocidal campaigns against European/Ashkenazi Jews for centuries, culminating in the Holocaust.
Now the same countries are making Palestinians (Muslim, Christian, Secular) and Bedouin, pay the blood price for the sins of so-called Christian Europe, thus repeating our crimes, with different victims.