Speech on the Israel-Palestine motion (which passed) commences at 38m10s on YouTube, or alternatively see the audience view of just my speech on Facebook.

While LDFP and Bradford West broadly support this motion, we note that it has several key weaknesses. This motion omits mention of

1. Israeli torture of prisoners, 
2. The destabilising role the USA plays 
3. The need to allow the international media to return to Gaza

It also calls for engagement with Yesh Atid which, although is an observer member of Liberal International, evidently does not share our liberal values. 

1. Omission of Torture Against Palestinian Prisoners

The motion omits the systematic torture of some 1200 Palestinian prisoners. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have highlighted this, particularly under the policy of administrative detention, where prisoners are held without charge or trial. The omission reflects a lack of balance and misses a significant part of the broader human rights violations Palestinians face under occupation.

2. Inclusion of Iran 

If we are going to mention Iran’s support of arms to Hamas, we really have to also mention the USA’s unconditional support to Israel, and the destabilisation this causes in the region.

3. Engagement with Yesh Atid

Yesh Atid has supported military actions in Gaza. 

Their leader Yair Lapid presided over the deadliest escalation in violence since 2006 in the West Bank during his 6 month prime ministership in 2022. 

While we may consider engaging Yesh Atid, we should also be questioning their observer membership of Liberal International. They do not share our liberal values.

4. Israel must allow international media to come to Gaza 

Any country which bans war correspondents has crimes to hide. 

The party must call for the ban to end.

These are the weaknesses. But we do support another resolution that calls for the immediate and unconditional recognition of Palestine, upholds international law, and an end to arms exports to Israel.