SNP MSP threatens Russell Findlay with legal action amid IDF row
The UK Government proscribed the group Palestine Action late last week after a claimed £7 million of damage done to two planes at the RAF Brize Norton base on June 20, both of which are again operational.
After the proscription, supporting or being a member of Palestine Action can be punished with up to 14 years in prison. An 83-year-old reverend was among the dozens of people subsequently arrested on terror charges in London over the weekend.
READ MORE: How UK media are covering up British spy flights for Israel
Ahead of the Labour Government's move, Dornan had lodged a motion at Holyrood opposing it, which was backed by former SNP ministers Paul McLennan and Ben Macpherson, as well as MSPs Stephanie Callaghan, Stuart McMillan, and Evelyn Tweed, and the Greens' Maggie Chapman, Ross Greer, and Patrick Harvie.
Dornan's motion said that the UK Government seemed 'embarrassed by the actions of Palestine Action and terrified to show anything but utter compliance and subservience to the Israeli government' despite the 'ongoing ethnic cleansing of Gaza'.
It urged Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to let the justice system deal with any potential criminal offences from Palestine Action activists, and urged the UK Government to 'proscribe only those organisations that, it considers, really do, or did, cause a threat to life, such as the Israel Defense Forces'.
The IDF are actively engaged in breaches of international law in Palestine, including Israel's illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
Smoke rising in Gaza after an Israeli bombardment (File photo)In Gaza, the IDF is widely considered to be engaging in a genocide, with the International Court of Justice ruling that Palestinians' right to be protected from genocide is under 'plausible' threat.
Responding to Dornan's motion, when it was reported by the press over the weekend, Scottish Tory MSP Findlay suggested that criticising the IDF amounted to 'antisemitic poison'.
'If they got their way, Israel would be wiped out by Iran and its proxies Hamas, Hezbollah etc,' Findlay said of the SNP MSPs to have backed the motion.
READ MORE: 'I spent 16 months in Gaza amid Israel's genocide. Here's what I saw'
Responding, Dornan said: 'No surprise to see you rush to the defence of the perpetrators of war crimes, Russell.
'But if you call me an antisemite again then I will be considering taking legal action.
'I'm anti war crimes and, unlike many of your colleagues, I haven't been 'persuaded' to say otherwise.'
A petition to have the IDF proscribed has garnered more than 13,000 signatures, at the time of writing.
It comes after more than 130 leading charities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in Gaza issued a joint call for an end to the 'deadly' Israel- and US-led aid distribution scheme.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Sport minister rejects calls to consult on alcohol ban in football stands
Stephanie Peacock said moves to reverse the prohibition, which has been in place since 1985, do not fall within the scope of the Football Governance Bill. MPs will have a say on the Tories' amendment to the Bill on Tuesday, if the party chooses to push it to a vote. Sport minister Stephanie Peacock (Chris McAndrew/PA) The minister also stopped short of agreeing to financial support for ex-players who have suffered brain conditions caused by heading footballs, but said the Government is 'committed' to looking further at player welfare. Speaking in the Commons, Ms Peacock said the Bill's focus is on the 'financial sustainability of football clubs up and down the country'. The Bill would introduce an independent regulator for the top five tiers of the men's game to ensure clubs are run sustainably and are accountable to their fans. The regulator will also have 'backstop' powers to impose a financial settlement between the English Football League (EFL) and the Premier League if they cannot agree one themselves. David Kogan, a media rights expert, has been named as the Government's preferred candidate to chair the Independent Football Regulator in April, and his appointment was endorsed by a cross-party committee of MPs. But Mr Kogan faces an inquiry into his appointment following the revelation that he had donated money to both Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, as well as other Labour figures. During the Bill's report stage, shadow sport minister Louie French accused the Government of 'appointing a Labour crony to be the new sheriff of football'. Intervening, Ms Nandy said then-minister Stuart Andrew had 'actively headhunted the individual in question and added him to the shortlist'. Mr French also urged the Government to scrap the 'legacy ban which sees fans rushing to drink their beer before kick-off and at half-time'. On new clause one, he said: 'The alcohol ban, which has been in place since 1985, was introduced to help curb hooliganism on the terraces during the problematic era of British football. 'But 40 years on, and with the modern game enjoying a more family-friendly atmosphere in stadiums across the country, clubs, fans and the Conservatives are urging the Government to consult on lifting the ban on alcohol. 'As football fans know, we have this legacy ban which sees fans rushing to drink their beer before kick-off and at half-time, this often leads to the fans being delayed entering the stadiums and overcrowding on the concourses. 'This is why we have listened to clubs and fans, especially those lower down the football pyramid, and are urging the Government to end the two-tier approach to football plans as part of their Football Governance Bill.' Responding, Ms Peacock said: 'This is outside the scope of the Bill, which is focused on sustainability of clubs and game overall. I've raised the issue with the Home Office, as I committed to do during the Bill committee, as it is their policy lead.' Labour MP for Caerphilly Chris Evans (Andrew Matthews/PA) A number of MPs, including Labour's Chris Evans (Caerphilly) had tabled amendments to the Bill calling for greater support of past players who have developed neurodegenerative diseases as a result of heading footballs. Referring to the Liberal Democrats' amendment which called for a financial scheme to provide care, Ms Peacock said it is 'not within the tight regulatory scope of the Bill'. She told MPs: 'The Secretary of State and I recently met with a small group of affected families and ex-footballers, including individuals associated with Football Families for Justice (FFJ), to discuss player safety and welfare for those suffering with dementia. 'The Government is committed to looking further at this issue and supporting the families and football authorities to come together to address issues of lifelong consequences from concussion as well as post-career mental health and financial crises. 'I'm afraid this amendment is not within the tight regulatory scope of the Bill, although that does not mean the Government is not aware and very sympathetic to the calls that are being made on this issue, both in this House and for many former players and their families. 'This Bill is focused on the financial sustainability of football clubs up and down the country.' The Liberal Democrats had also tabled an amendment which proposed that at least 10 Premier League football matches should be made available on free-to-air television channels such as the BBC or ITV. The party's culture spokesperson Max Wilkinson said: 'If we are to get the next generation of fans involved, the easiest way to make sure that they are entertained and that they're engaging is by making football free-to-air.' Ms Peacock said: 'The Government believes that the current list of events works well, and it strikes an appropriate balance between access to sporting events and allowing sports to maximise broadcasting revenue. 'In domestic football, the present arrangements under the listed events regime have protected key moments such as the FA Cup final, while ensuring that the Premier League, the EFL, and the FA, are able to raise billions of pounds annually, which is invested back into the pyramid. 'We all want to see more matches being televised, free-to-air, but that must be balanced against investment and not risk it.'
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Sport minister rejects calls to consult on alcohol ban in football stands
Stephanie Peacock said moves to reverse the prohibition, which has been in place since 1985, do not fall within the scope of the Football Governance Bill. MPs will have a say on the Tories' amendment to the Bill on Tuesday, if the party chooses to push it to a vote. The minister also stopped short of agreeing to financial support for ex-players who have suffered brain conditions caused by heading footballs, but said the Government is 'committed' to looking further at player welfare. Speaking in the Commons, Ms Peacock said the Bill's focus is on the 'financial sustainability of football clubs up and down the country'. The Bill would introduce an independent regulator for the top five tiers of the men's game to ensure clubs are run sustainably and are accountable to their fans. The regulator will also have 'backstop' powers to impose a financial settlement between the English Football League (EFL) and the Premier League if they cannot agree one themselves. David Kogan, a media rights expert, has been named as the Government's preferred candidate to chair the Independent Football Regulator in April, and his appointment was endorsed by a cross-party committee of MPs. But Mr Kogan faces an inquiry into his appointment following the revelation that he had donated money to both Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, as well as other Labour figures. During the Bill's report stage, shadow sport minister Louie French accused the Government of 'appointing a Labour crony to be the new sheriff of football'. Intervening, Ms Nandy said then-minister Stuart Andrew had 'actively headhunted the individual in question and added him to the shortlist'. Mr French also urged the Government to scrap the 'legacy ban which sees fans rushing to drink their beer before kick-off and at half-time'. On new clause one, he said: 'The alcohol ban, which has been in place since 1985, was introduced to help curb hooliganism on the terraces during the problematic era of British football. 'But 40 years on, and with the modern game enjoying a more family-friendly atmosphere in stadiums across the country, clubs, fans and the Conservatives are urging the Government to consult on lifting the ban on alcohol. 'As football fans know, we have this legacy ban which sees fans rushing to drink their beer before kick-off and at half-time, this often leads to the fans being delayed entering the stadiums and overcrowding on the concourses. 'This is why we have listened to clubs and fans, especially those lower down the football pyramid, and are urging the Government to end the two-tier approach to football plans as part of their Football Governance Bill.' Responding, Ms Peacock said: 'This is outside the scope of the Bill, which is focused on sustainability of clubs and game overall. I've raised the issue with the Home Office, as I committed to do during the Bill committee, as it is their policy lead.' A number of MPs, including Labour's Chris Evans (Caerphilly) had tabled amendments to the Bill calling for greater support of past players who have developed neurodegenerative diseases as a result of heading footballs. Referring to the Liberal Democrats' amendment which called for a financial scheme to provide care, Ms Peacock said it is 'not within the tight regulatory scope of the Bill'. She told MPs: 'The Secretary of State and I recently met with a small group of affected families and ex-footballers, including individuals associated with Football Families for Justice (FFJ), to discuss player safety and welfare for those suffering with dementia. 'The Government is committed to looking further at this issue and supporting the families and football authorities to come together to address issues of lifelong consequences from concussion as well as post-career mental health and financial crises. 'I'm afraid this amendment is not within the tight regulatory scope of the Bill, although that does not mean the Government is not aware and very sympathetic to the calls that are being made on this issue, both in this House and for many former players and their families. 'This Bill is focused on the financial sustainability of football clubs up and down the country.' The Liberal Democrats had also tabled an amendment which proposed that at least 10 Premier League football matches should be made available on free-to-air television channels such as the BBC or ITV. The party's culture spokesperson Max Wilkinson said: 'If we are to get the next generation of fans involved, the easiest way to make sure that they are entertained and that they're engaging is by making football free-to-air.' Ms Peacock said: 'The Government believes that the current list of events works well, and it strikes an appropriate balance between access to sporting events and allowing sports to maximise broadcasting revenue. 'In domestic football, the present arrangements under the listed events regime have protected key moments such as the FA Cup final, while ensuring that the Premier League, the EFL, and the FA, are able to raise billions of pounds annually, which is invested back into the pyramid. 'We all want to see more matches being televised, free-to-air, but that must be balanced against investment and not risk it.'
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Israel outlines plans to pack Gaza's population into closed border zone
It appears to be the latest version of plans by the Israeli government to maintain lasting control over the territory and relocate much of its population of some two million. Critics say that would amount to forcible displacement in violation of international law because Israel's offensive and blockade have made Gaza largely uninhabitable. Israeli officials say the aim is to separate the civilian population from Hamas, which still controls parts of Gaza and holds dozens of hostages abducted in the October 7 attack that triggered the war 21 months ago. Palestinians would then be given the option of emigrating, they say. US President Donald Trump, who has said he is narrowing in on a ceasefire and hopes to eventually end the war, has also voiced support for the mass transfer of Palestinians out of Gaza. Defence minister Israel Katz outlined the latest plans in a closed briefing with Israeli military reporters on Monday. His office did not respond to a request for comment on their reports, which appeared in several Israeli media outlets. Mr Katz reportedly said he had ordered Israel's military to draw up plans to build what he called a 'humanitarian city' in Rafah, Gaza's southern-most city, which has been heavily damaged in the war and is now largely uninhabited. Mr Katz reportedly said that Palestinians would not be able to leave once they enter the zone. The military would initially move 600,000 Palestinians from an existing so-called humanitarian zone along the coast, with the aim of eventually transferring the whole population to Rafah. Mr Katz said Israel was searching for an unspecified international body to deliver aid as Israeli troops secured the perimeter. He said the military could start building the 'city' during a 60-day ceasefire that Mr Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are discussing in Washington this week. Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Palestinians view Gaza as an integral part of their national homeland and oppose any plans to uproot them. – Rights groups see preparations for mass expulsion Both Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu have said Gaza's population should be relocated to other countries through what they refer to as voluntary emigration. During their meeting on Monday at the White House, Mr Netanyahu said Palestinians should have a 'free choice' on whether to stay or leave. Palestinians fear that even if they leave temporarily to escape the war, Israel will never allow them to return — a possible repeat of the mass exodus that occurred before and during the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation. Mr Katz expressed hope that the 'emigration plan' would happen and said Mr Netanyahu was already leading efforts to find countries willing to take in Palestinians, according to Israel's Haaretz newspaper. Rights groups fear that concentrating the population along the border with Egypt would create catastrophic conditions that leave Palestinians with no choice but to leave. 'Forcing people into what amounts to a large concentration camp echoes dark chapters of history,' said Tania Hary, executive director of Gisha, an Israeli group advocating Palestinians' right to freedom of movement. 'Israel's leadership hasn't been shy about the goal to expel Palestinians from Gaza and maintain permanent control over wide swathes of the territory,' she said. – Israeli-backed aid system already in place Israel and the US have already rolled out an aid distribution programme in Rafah that has been marred by violence and controversy. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed or wounded while trying to reach sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a contractor supported by Israel and the US, according to local hospitals. Palestinian witnesses and health officials say Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire toward crowds of people heading to the sites. The military says it has fired warning shots at people who approached its forces in what it describes as a suspicious manner. GHF denies there has been any violence in or around the sites themselves, which are in Israeli military zones off limits to independent media.
