This is an excerpt of the Morning Star editorial which can be found at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/burnhams-apology-vindicates-palestine-movement-will-he-stop-repression

… The strongest sign of a new direction on Palestine would be to end the repression.

Reverse the outrageous ban on Palestine Action as a “terrorist” group. Stop the legislation placing further restrictions on protests. Apologise to the thousands rounded up by police for sitting down holding placards. Burnham mentions none of this.

On genocide, he hints it’s for the courts to decide. So address Britain’s appeal to the International Court of Justice to refuse to hear the genocide charges against Israel brought by South Africa, and state that we will no longer obstruct these cases. Call out the US bids to undermine international courts for daring to hold Israel accountable, and its sanctions on UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese.

Burnham rightly observes that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to make a two-state solution impossible. But pretending that Netanyahu’s excesses have nothing to do with what went before will not wash.

The occupation and colonisation of Palestinian land has proceeded over decades and a fundamental break with Tel Aviv on this, tied to sanctions and a total ban on arms sales, is urgent.

Ultimately that means a fundamental break with Washington. Burnham will hardly say so, but our movement must raise the stakes.

Britain supports the illegal occupation of Palestine because we are tied into a wider network of imperialist alliances led by the United States.

It is inconsistent to demand justice for Palestine while backing Trump’s rearmament drive and remaining a junior military and intelligence partner to the United States. We need an independent foreign policy.

This is an excerpt of the Morning Star editorial which can be found at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/burnhams-apology-vindicates-palestine-movement-will-he-stop-repression