LONDON (Dispatches) – Labour conference backed a motion for the party on Monday to demand sanctions against the Zionist regime for its illegal actions under international law, to stop the UK’s arms trade with the occupying regime, and end trade with illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian territory.
The motion points to recent human rights reports showing “unequivocally” that the occupying regime has committed the UN-recognized crime of apartheid as evidenced by Israeli rights organization B’tselem and Human Rights Watch.
The motion supports Palestinian civil society calls for “effective measures” against the building of settlements, demands the end to the occupation of the West Bank and the blockade of Gaza, and supports the right of Palestinians to return to their homes.
“Conference condemns the ongoing Nakba in Palestine, Israel’s militarized violence attacking the Al-Aqsa mosque, the forced displacements from Sheikh Jarrah and the deadly assault on Gaza,” said the motion.
Labour members also welcomed the International Criminal Court’s decision to hold an inquiry into abuses committed by the Zionist regime in the occupied Palestinian Territory since 2014.
The motion, brought by Labour’s youth section, was passed easily following a short debate.
The UK Palestine Solidarity Campaign hailed the “Historic motion on Palestine passes at Labour Party Conference 2021 acknowledging that Israel is practicing apartheid and calling for strong sanctions.”
The occupying regime’s military action against Gaza in May, which left hundreds dead, sparked huge protests in the UK, with up to 200,000 people taking to the streets in the largest demonstration in support of Palestine seen in Britain.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has made clear since his election as leader last year that he distances himself from his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause, stating that he “supports Zionism without qualification”.
Labour members have complained that the leadership has not supported them and made the party a hostile environment for supporters of Palestinian human rights.