Jeremy Corbyn and Britain’s largest political party stand strong with Palestine at annual Liverpool conference
As
soon the conference began, one thing was clear: Palestine was going
to have a significant place in the discussions and resolutions. What
was also clear was that there is a segment within the U.K. Labour
Party that is deeply Zionist, opposes Corbyn, and works within the
party to undermine him.
by
Miko Peled
The
2018 U.K. Labour conference held in Liverpool, September 23-26, will
be remembered as a turning point in U.K. relations to the Palestinian
issue. Britain, which is rightfully accused for its role in promoting
the Zionist takeover of Palestine, now seems prepared to make amends.
In his final speech, on the final day of the conference and following
many events and votes on the Palestine issue, Labour Leader Jeremy
Corbyn made it clear that a Labour government led by him would hold
Israel responsible for its human-rights violations, killing of
unarmed protesters, and detention of children. Labour also made it
clear it is ready to review the sales of British-made arms to Israel.
All of this was achieved in spite of the fact that elements within
the Labour Party have been striving to undermine Corbyn’s
leadership.
Part
3 - A historic vote
On
September 25 the conference held a historic vote on Palestine. The
excitement in the conference hall was immense and one had to remind
oneself that this was not a rally of a Palestine solidarity group but
the conference of the U.K. Labour Party, which today is the largest
political party in Western Europe. The support for Palestine among
members and guests was made evident by the thousands of Palestinian
flags held by members and delegates.
The
motion that was voted and carried at the conference was unprecedented
in its condemnation of Israel and reads as follows:
Conference
condemns
This
aggressive attempt to rewrite history, and erase the victims of the
1948 war, who were expelled or fled from their homes in Palestine.
Conference
supports
Developing
solidarity with Palestinian refugees, especially young refugees, and
[exploring] developing links with UNRWA schools, its training
centres, and its local staff serving across the Middle East.
Conference
urges
The
British government to increase its level of annual assessed
contributions to UNRWA, providing much needed reassurance and
stability to Palestinian refugees, and to encourage other member
states to do the same.
This
conference resolves
To call
for an independent international investigation into Israel’s use of
force against Palestinian demonstrators; a freeze of U.K. government
arms sales to Israel; and an immediate unconditional end to the
illegal blockade and closure of Gaza.
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