Keir Starmer walks back his manifesto already, selling Palestine down the river

Labour policy on Palestine is a joke

A source close to Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has walked back a manifesto commitment to recognise Palestine, which could be yet another U-turn. The source said that UK recognition of Palestinian statehood was a “process” that should be done in “co-ordination with allies”.

The thing is, the UK’s key ally, particularly in the matter of Israel and Palestine, is the US. And the US lobbys against the recognition of a Palestinian state. Nonetheless, with Ireland, Norway, and Spain formally recognising Palestine in May, 146 out of 193 UN member states now uphold Palestinian self-determination in the form of a nation.

Labour Palestine: the usual fluff

In the Labour’s manifesto, it reads:

Palestinian statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. It is not in the gift of any neighbour and is also essential to the long-term security of Israel. We are committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.

So the usual fluff from the UK/US partnership on Israel, with no real action on the ongoing genocide. And already Labour are walking back what could be considered a symbolic gesture, the recognition of Palestine.

Trade between the UK and the Israeli occupied Palestinian territories totalled £38m in 2023. This represents trade with the Palestinian authority, which has very limited control under Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.

Despite the genocide, Starmer’s Labour has refused to ban arms sales to Israel or call for sanctions on the state.

When has Starmer ever challenged Rishi Sunak on Israel?

During the final general election debate between Starmer and Sunak, Palestine solidarity protestors disrupted the event from outside, shouting “free, free Palestine”.

In December, a concerned Scotsman confronted Starmer on a train to Glasgow, saying:

Keir, how many more children have to die in Palestine before you call for a ceasefire?

Starmer backed Israel’s assault on Gaza for four months, before eventually calling for a peace deal. Whether Starmer will uphold that call as government policy is unlikely without massive pressure.

Labour’s manifesto claims the party will “continue to push for an immediate ceasefire”. One issue is it’s unclear they have been pushing for a peace deal, beyond a few warm words. Starmer has never challenged Sunak on Conservative policy towards Israel’s genocide.

He isn’t an opposition leader, he’s an accomplice.

Featured image via Sky News – YouTube

Comments 3

Hunter says:

2 years ago

For some unknown reason, our “illustrious” leaders will not go anywhere without the permission of America.
Sunak delayed the arms shipment to Ukraine until America gave permission for its own shipment to proceed.
And, although they know that it is wrong, both of them show their yellow spines to the world by being complicit in the genocide because America, politically, relies on the Jewish dollar.
Having been a serviceman for 37 years, this abominable behaviour makes me feel sick at times.
Neither Labour nor the Conservatives, are good for Britain.
Both are capitalistic and want to privatise the NHS and more.

Rowypest says:

2 years ago

If Starmer is PM the UK will become just another Israel

ElDee says:

2 years ago

The tail wags the dog as ever. Lunatic fringes dictate world policy on this. In the US the extreme Christian Nationalists control a hefty amount to donate to candidates but would only donate if they unflinchingly support an expansionist version on Israel as only the most extremist politicians in Israel are looking for. Whilst other groups donate and lobby we rarely hear about this group and their lunatic reasons for their donations and support. They donate and support this extremism not out of love for the Jewish people of Israel nor even out of hate for the Palestinians but for the bonkers reason that they actively want to prompt a full on war which, they believe, will ‘fulfil biblical prophecies’ and lead to the ‘end times’ and thus the Second Coming.

It doesn’t get much crazier than that. The thing is that their constant efforts have been successful (insofar as creating war) A tiny minority of extremist nationalist Christians are pushing the world’s stability to the very edge..