CAA disappointed that Lib Dems condemn Palestinian Authority and Hamas persecution against “LGBT+ community and women” but omit Jews
The Liberal Democrats have passed a motion that makes explicit reference to the Palestinian Authority’s and Hamas’s persecution of the “LGBT+ community and women” but makes no mention of their antisemitism.
Motion “F39: Towards a Lasting Peace in Israel and Palestine”, which has been passed at the Liberal Democrats’ annual Party conference this week, condemns the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and Israel and pushes for “trade [to be] used as a tool for peace and shared prosperity”, among other resolutions.
However, although the motion calls on the British Government to “Apply pressure on the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, where appropriate, to halt persecution of or discrimination against marginalised groups, including the LGBT+ community and women, civil society organisations and democratic opposition,” the motion makes no mention of the rampant antisemitism in the territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Anti-Jewish racism is sadly central to the ideologies, policies, educational materials and civil society activities of these entities.
Hamas in particular is an antisemitic genocidal terrorist organisation, and its recent conflict with Israel was a pretext for an outpouring of hate towards Jews in Britain and around the world. It is therefore extraordinary that, in light of Hamas’ very real impact in this country, the Liberal Democrats failed to call out its (and the Palestinian Authority’s) antisemitism.
Although the Party has condemned antisemitism in the UK – including Layla Moran MP, the Party’s Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs who moved the motion – nevertheless it is disappointing that this motion failed to mention the point, despite its gravity and indeed centrality to the motion’s subject matter.
Campaign Against Antisemitism advocates for zero tolerance of antisemitism in public life. To that end we monitor all political parties and strive to ensure that any cases of concern are properly addressed.
