Scotland’s Conservatives have called for two Green Party ministers to be removed from government unless they sign up to the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is being urged to deliver the ultimatum to Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater after it emerged their party had approved a motion in 2015 that declared Hamas was not a terrorist organisation and branded Israel an “apartheid state”.
Former Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, said: “If the Green party won’t sign up to a globally recognised position on antisemitism, backed by every other party in Scotland, they’re not fit to serve in the Scottish government.
“The Greens, especially their government ministers, must endorse this mainstream position or be removed from office. Their views are beyond radical. They are downright dangerous. Nicola Sturgeon cannot turn a blind eye to this extreme view held by her new coalition partners.”
The Scottish government adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism in full in 2017 but the policy of its new junior partner appears to be a clear breach of that definition.
Policy Motion 2, voted through by Scottish Greens in 2015, has never been rescinded. It was debated and voted on at conference on a Saturday, excluding any participation by observant Jews.
It condemns Israel’s claim to be the Jewish state and brands Zionism a “racist ideology based on Jewish supremacy in Palestine”. It accuses Israel of being an “unacceptable… apartheid” state.
It goes on to demand Israel repeal its law of return, aliyah, while backing the right of return for all Palestinian Arabs and their descendants. It declares that Hamas should no longer be designated as a terrorist organisation and offers its support for the anti-Israel BDS boycott movement.
Mr Carlaw said it was a real concern that the first minister hadn’t discussed this issue with the Greens despite concerns raised by Jewish organisations and the Conservatives.
He said: “Antisemitism is still rife and we must all send a clear message that it’s wrong, especially those in positions in power. Scotland’s Jewish communities will be aghast if Nicola Sturgeon is willing to tolerate such extreme views in her government. She must act immediately.”
Nicola Livingston, chairwoman of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, said she had raised the issue with the first minister but added it was not the most pressing concern in regards to the Green Party.
She said: “We have spoken to the first minister but this focus on IHRA is not helpful, there are much wider concerns about the Green Party. It was the only party not to have responded to our community manifesto at all, net alone endorse it. The leadership’s failure to engage with us at all is incredibly worrying so for us so the issue around IHRA is not the single most important issue.
“That does not mean we will let this go. Give (the first minister) some time to deal with it but we won’t let it go.”
The historic cooperation agreement between the Scottish National Party and the Scottish Greens ensures two ministerial roles for the junior party and bolsters the first minister’s case for independence.
It is understood the unity pact between the SNP and Scottish Greens does not cover international relations. This would appear to suggest the Greens are still free to promote their views without undermining the duty to collective responsibility within the Scottish government.
Joe Glasman, head of political investigation at the Campaign Against Antisemitism, said the recent conflict between Israel and Gaza had seen a surge in antisemitic violence and abuse in Scotland and the views of some of those now in power in Holyrood would be abhorrent to the Jewish community and all those opposed to racism.
He added: “The party’s rise to national prominence in Scotland demands immediate review of its position on Zionism, ‘aliyah’ and Hamas. With the privilege of participation in government comes the responsibility to govern on behalf of all Scotland, including its minorities.
“Nicola Sturgeon, who invited the Scottish Greens into her administration, must also urgently clarify the policy of the Scottish Government. If she fails to control the extremist elements of her new governing partner, she will be to blame for elevating those views into Scotland’s national conversation and giving such views standing within the UK polity.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Green Party said: “The Scottish Green Party abhors antisemitism. There is absolutely no place for any anti-Jewish prejudice in society. Green politics is rooted in environmentalism, peace, social justice and democracy.
“Our party’s position on international affairs, including Palestine and Israel, is guided by these pillars. We will continue to raise our voice in support of a human rights based outcome that allows everyone in the region to live in peace, free from oppression or occupation.”
A spokesman for the Scottish government said: “We remain absolutely committed to action to address antisemitism, which is utterly unacceptable. There is no place for it in Scotland.”
