Far from the characterisation here made by people who prefer professedly biased outlets like Novara to primary sources, which would tell you that Labour is avoiding talking about Gaza, Cooper talks about Gaza throughout the speech. Palestine is the very first country she mentioned:
Do you know, fifteen years ago, when I was Labour’s shadow Foreign Secretary, the last world leader I met in that role was President Abbas in East Jerusalem. And fifteen years on, the first world leader I met as Foreign Secretary was President Abbas in London. And the tragedy – we talked about the same things – peace, the need for peace, the need for two states, the need for reform.
Yet not only has so little changed, so much has gone backwards.
Conference, for many decades, the UK has pledged support for a two state solution in the Middle East but only recognised one of those states.
Until now.
Seven days ago, I stood in the Great Chamber of the United Nations in New York, beneath the UN symbol of peace to confirm the historic decision of the United Kingdom to recognise the state of Palestine. Our manifesto promise. Because statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people.
She also repeatedly criticised Israel. For example:
The Israeli government must end the moral obscenity of this campaign that has seen food, water and medicine denied, and an unconscionable loss of human life. Because Palestinian civilians should not have to go another day in fear and hunger.
Now. If I didn’t want people to talk about Israel and Gaza, I would not go about this by getting the Foreign Secretary to mention it prominently and repeatedly in her speech to conference.
Yeah, but we can take the win! They’re doing this because of activist pressure moving them the right way. The stance should be: Good, they’ve done this, now they need to do [next thing]. If instead we say: nothing’s happened, all our pressure and work was pointless, why keep working at all? Unfortunately, most of the motions the left is shouting about don’t include a commitment to sanctions and, ironically, are just more words and symbols: recognise this, demand that, acknowledge the other. This is the kind of ineffectual ‘activism’ you and I both take issue with!
Fact is, it’s not easy to move against a military and intelligence ally like this, especially not one that has US backing, and especially when Gaza is still run by an organisation like Hamas (right wing terrorists - surprising Trump doesn’t like them, now I think about it - maybe someone whould tell him?). It requires a level of diplomacy and negotiation that is simply not an issue for you and I when we boycott Hewlett Packard or whatever (I’m assuming we both support BDS). But the UK government is moving the right way.
It is. Quite right. I just hope it goes further.
You and me both! No idea what’s going to happen with the Trump-Netanyahu-Blair peace plan, but I’m not exactly optimistic about those three.
My guess? It won’t come to fruition. Or it won’t last longer than a year. Nobody is willing to demilitarise and nobody is willing to put external troops on the ground to protect the peace. Nobody is willing to sanction the aggression.
Sadly, I see no reason to disagree with you.