Saturday, August 17, 2024
That’s another fine mess…
By Rab Clark
We’ll keep this brief.
Angus Robertson, looking about as comfortable as a teething toddler with a full nappy, was pictured shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel’s Deputy Ambassador.
It would appear that the image was not approved or released by the Scottish Government/SNP. Robertson has made no comment on the meeting and we are left with the First Minister’s explanation as to why the meeting was approved and what it was about -
Last week the Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs met the Israeli UK Deputy Ambassador to express the Scottish Government's clear and unwavering position on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The Scottish Government received the meeting request and accepted on the basis it would provide an opportunity to convey our consistent position on the killing and suffering of innocent civilians in the region.
I understand why some believe a face-to-face meeting was not appropriate, however, I thought it necessary to outline our long-standing position on an immediate ceasefire directly, and explicitly, to one of Israel's representatives in the UK.
As First Minister and SNP Leader, I will never hold back in expressing support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, an end to UK arms being sent to Israel, and the recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state within a two-state solution.
(6) John Swinney on X: "Last week the Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs met the Israeli UK Deputy Ambassador to express the Scottish Government's clear and unwavering position on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. (1/4)" / X
A totally fatuous explanation from Mr Swinney. Representations on the war on Gaza would be made directly to the Israeli Government, not via a Deputy diplomat. This is not a time for business as usual with a state whose leadership is under ICC investigation for war crimes
Nothing was said about this meeting until the Deputy Ambassador tweeted her version, and nor is it the first time that Mr Robertson has been caught cosying up to Israeli officials. In current circumstances and if I were still First Minister then he would be sacked forthwith.
(6) Alex Salmond on X: "Nothing was said about this meeting until the Deputy Ambassador tweeted her version, and nor is it the first time that Mr Robertson has been caught cosying up to Israeli officials. In current circumstances and if I were still First Minister then he would be sacked forthwith (2/2)" / X
Another ‘scandal’.
If past form is anything to go by then we expect that the online furore will eventually be taken up by mainstream journalists who will go through the motions of asking why the meeting was approved and what was really discussed. There will also be demands to know what other meetings have taken place since the Gaza ‘war’ began. Those demands for disclosure will be batted away with sternly-delivered cautions about ‘national security’ and the whole sordid mess will have been forgotten about a week hence.
Won’t it?
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