We're steadfast in our errrrr .....

I recently joined a Palestinian Solidarity Campaign e-mailing to MPs regarding the appalling situation faced by Palestinians. My MP, Alison Hume, has replied although I think she has probably used a standard reply prepared by the PLP—Parliamentary Labour Party. I can’t complain about that, I did it myself when responding to (some) email campaigns. Nobody expects that scores or even hundreds of identical emails are going to each receive an individual and different response. So I take it that my MP’s reply is standard government issue. Its contents are not untypically disappointing. Take this for example:
 
We have now seen the hugely welcome agreement of President Trump’s peace plan, and it is vital that the UK now plays its part – alongside our international partners – in supporting the implementation of that plan, an objective recently affirmed by a UN Security Council Resolution, supported by the UK, our European allies and Arab states.
 
So far the ‘peace plan’ has not come into effect and Israel has continued to terrorise and kill Palestinians (not just in Gaza). The Israeli government says it wants the last remaining hostage corpse returned before they will enact their side of the bargain. Hamas claim they cannot find it. Given the destruction and chaos the Israelis inflicted on Gaza this doesn’t surprise me. No mention here though of UK government pressure to find a solution. Instead they are looking the other way:
 
The immediate priority must be to maintain (sic) the ceasefire, secure safe and unrestricted access to Gaza for the UN relief teams and other humanitarian organisations and get aid flooding into Gaza at the pace and volume that is required to match the scale of the current crisis. The Prime Minister announced at the Egypt peace summit that the UK will allocate an extra £20 million of humanitarian support to provide water and sanitation to those in need, taking the total last year to £100 million. 
 
This begs the question who will deliver this essential aid. Israel has potentially ordered 50 or so aid organisations out of Gaza unless they comply with a whole raft of preposterous new conditions. They don’t want the suffering to end. This much seems to have been acknowledged:
 
On 30th December, the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland signed a joint statement on the Gaza Humanitarian Response, expressing serious concerns about the renewed deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza which remains catastrophic. The letter called the Government of Israel to take the following urgent and essential steps:
 
·            Ensure that international NGOs are able to operate in Gaza in a sustained and
              predictable way. 
·            Ensure the UN and its partners can continue their vital work.
·            Lift unreasonable restrictions on imports considered to have a dual use. This includes
             urgently needed medical and shelter equipment.
Open crossings and boost the flows of humanitarian aid into Gaza. 
 
No mention of how ‘serious concerns’ will be translated into action! When, I wonder, did ‘serious concerns’ ever bother the Israeli government? Perhaps an official governmental BDS movement might have a greater impact . . .
 
The piece de resistance in these sort of statements is always:
 
We remain steadfast in our belief that a two-state solution is the only path to justice for Palestinians and enduring security for Israelis. 75 years ago, we were rightly proud to recognise the State of Israel, and our commitment to the security of Israel and its people remains unwavering. Now, we recognise Palestinian statehood, as the inalienable right of the Palestinian people.
 
There’s never a mention of how the two state solution will be arrived at, there’s never a suggestion that Israel will be forced to remove all its illegal settlements in the West Bank. But the UK government will continue to support the supply of military equipment to the rogue state. And it goes without saying that you cannot believe a single ’steadfast promise’ Keir Starmer ever makes.