Justice for Palestine – New Model Motion for CLPs

JVL Introduction

Labour & Palestine, in addition to circulating a model motion for Labour Party Conference 2021 in May, has also produced a new model motion for general discussions in Labour Party meetings in solidarity with Palestine.

Both motions are posted below.

At a time when concerted efforts are being made to take Palestine off the agenda (witness the kerfuffle at Manchester’s Whitworth Gallery over the last week) it is more important than ever for people to keep raising this important issue wherever  they can.

Justice for Palestine – New Model Motion for discussion in CLPs

19 August 2021

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Dear Friend,

In addition to our model motion for Labour Party Conference 2021 (below) please find below our new model motion for general discussions in Labour Party meetings in solidarity with Palestine, as many of you have requested. Please take it your local meeting and let us know how you get on.

We also have a new statement for people to sign and share coming soon, plus a great line up for our Labour fringe – keep in touch, and keep speaking up for Palestine!

Best wishes,

The Labour & Palestine Team

MODEL MOTION – Justice for Palestine

This CLP notes:

• The international community and international labour movement widely condemned the state of Israel’s latest militarised violence against the Palestinian people, including the attacking of the Al Aqsa mosque, the forced displacements from Sheikh Jarrah and the deadly assault on Gaza.
• The International Criminal Court’s decision to hold an inquiry into abuses committed in the occupied Palestinian Territories since 2014.
• The recent report by Human Rights Watch – ‘A Threshold Crossed’ – details how Palestinians are ‘born unequal’, shown recently by the discriminatory approach excluding Palestinians from Israel’s vaccination programme.
• Clear policy passed at Labour Party Annual Conferences 2018 and 2019 in solidarity with the Palestinian people and against Israel’s ongoing illegal occupation.

This CLP believes:

• The aggression earlier this year, together with the de facto annexation of Palestinian land by accelerated settlement building and statements of the Israeli state’s intention to proceed with annexation, show it is ever clearer that the Israeli State is intent on eliminating any prospects of Palestinian self-determination.
• The aforementioned Human Rights Watch report and a further recent report from the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem have added weight to the TUC’s warning that the ongoing Israeli Government’s illegal settlement building and annexation would represent ‘another significant step’ towards the UN Crime of Apartheid.

This CLP resolves:

• To stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their fundamental rights, including the right to self-determination.
• That action is needed now due to the Israeli state’s continuing illegal actions and that Labour should adhere to an ethical policy on all UK trade with Israel, including stopping any arms trade used to violate Palestinian human rights.
• To support “effective measures” including sanctions, as called for by Palestinian civil society, against actions by the Israeli state that are illegal according to international law; in particular to ensure that the state of Israel stops the building of settlements, reverses any annexation, ends the occupation of the West Bank, the blockade of Gaza, brings down the Wall and respects the right of refugees to return to their homes under international law.

Labour and Palestine – Motion for Labour Conference 2021

“Conference condemns Israel’s militarised violence attacking the Al Aqsa mosque, the forced displacements from Sheikh Jarrah and the deadly assault on Gaza.

Together with the de facto annexation of Palestinian land by accelerated settlement building and statements of Israel’s intention to proceed with annexation, it is ever clearer that Israel is intent on eliminating any prospects of Palestinian self-determination.

Conference notes the TUC 2020 Congress motion describing such settlement building and annexation as ‘another significant step’ towards the UN Crime of Apartheid; reinforced by the recent reports by B’Tselem and the Human Rights Watch, whose report – ‘A Threshold Crossed’, details how Palestinians are ‘born unequal’, shown recently by the discriminatory approach excluding Palestinians from Israel’s vaccination programme.

Conference welcomes the International Criminal Court decision to hold an inquiry into abuses committed in the occupied Palestinian Territories since 2014.

Conference resolves that action is needed now due to Israel’s continuing illegal actions and that Labour should adhere to an ethical policy on all UK trade with Israel, including stopping any arms trade used to violate Palestinian human rights.

Conference resolves to support “effective measures” including sanctions, as called for by Palestinian civil society, against actions by the Israeli government that are illegal according to international law; in particular to ensure that Israel stops the building of settlements, reverses any annexation, ends the occupation of the West Bank, the blockade of Gaza, brings down the Wall and respects the right of refugees to return to their homes under international law.”