Facebook share Share on TwitterRSS feed

Innovative Minds © 2014. All Rights Reserved. www.inminds.co.uk

[Boycott - Other News]

British minister endorses election trap to de-legitimize Hamas


Middle East Monitor (www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk)
17 February 2011



Britain's Minister for the Middle East and North Africa
Alistair Burt with Israeli Deputy Foreign
Minister Danny Ayalon

The announcement by the Palestine Liberation Organisation that it will hold national elections by September has prompted Britain's Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt, to say that Britain "welcomes the announcement" and that "we, together with our European partners stand ready to support the electoral process".

The PLO actually has no legal mandate to call the elections in Palestine; that right rests with the Palestinian Legislative Council, but the PLO/Palestinian Authority and the Israelis have rendered the PLC virtually irrelevant by imprisoning the elected legislators. That inconvenient reality hasn't deterred Mr. Burt from adding, "I am disappointed that Hamas has rejected these already along delayed elections. This reinforces the perception that Hamas is an organisation which can only maintain its grip on ordinary Gazans through repression and isolation."

Hamas was elected by "ordinary Gazans" and ordinary West Bankers as well, come to that. In contrast, Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian Authority prime minister enthroned by Israel and western democracies (what an irony), including Britain, was appointed by PA President Mahmoud Abbas even though his party received only 3% of the votes in the last election in 2006, which was won by Hamas.


In making this statement, Alistair Burt displays his lack of understanding of this important issue; either that or his civil servants haven't briefed him properly. Whichever it is, in order to shore up an increasingly discredited Palestinian Authority in Ramallah the minister has ignored the reason given by Hamas for not taking part in an election, namely that it will be impossible to hold free and fair elections under the combined handicap of the ongoing Israeli occupation of the West Bank and siege of the Gaza Strip, and the continued lack of national reconciliation between Fatah (which controls the PLO) and Hamas. Mr. Burt also forgets that Hamas was elected by "ordinary Gazans" and ordinary West Bankers as well, come to that. In contrast, Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian Authority prime minister enthroned by Israel and western democracies (what an irony), including Britain, was appointed by PA President Mahmoud Abbas even though his party received only 3% of the votes in the last election in 2006, which was won by Hamas.

Such economy with the truth by a Minister of State indicates yet again that the Conservative-led Coalition government in the UK is neither balanced nor just when it comes to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Mr. Burt and his colleagues in government and at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office know full well that the Palestinian Authority security forces to which Britain has given millions in "development aid" have been guilty of the arrest, detention without trial and torture of Fatah's political opponents, especially members or sympathisers of Hamas, in the West Bank. By what stretch of the imagination does the minister think that an election held while that state of affairs is allowed to fester could ever be free and fair? Throw the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip into the equation and one is predisposed to think that Alistair Burt might also believe in fairies.

The Palestinian Authority security forces to which Britain has given millions in "development aid" have been guilty of the arrest, detention without trial and torture of Fatah's political opponents, especially members or sympathisers of Hamas, in the West Bank. By what stretch of the imagination does the minister think that an election held while that state of affairs is allowed to fester could ever be free and fair?


In a statement which echoes his party leader's attempts to play both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian divide even though it is common knowledge that the Conservative members of the Cabinet are very much pro-Israel, Mr. Burt pays lip-service to "the establishment of a sovereign, viable and contiguous Palestinian state", while saying or doing virtually nothing to persuade Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territory, stop building colony-settlements and end the collective punishment of the people of Gaza. Friends sometimes have to tell each other unpalatable truths for the common good. If Alistair Burt and the government he represents is sincere about wanting Palestinians to live "in peace and security alongside a safe and secure Israel", they should stop supporting the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Authority institutions which help to perpetuate it, and explain to their Israeli friends why. The conditions might then be right for a free and fair Palestinian election in which all factions feel able to participate.

Source: http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/resources/commentary-and-analysis/2062-british-minister-endorses-election-trap-to-de-legitimize-hamas


Related Articles

Beyond Imagination

Also Of Interest

Page URL: http://inminds.com/article.php?id=10505
Support Us
If you agree with our work then please support us.

Give one time donation:

Setup monthly donation:
INMINDS Facebook Live Feed
Latest Video's
Latest News..
[all-by date]
[all-by category]
[all-by modify date]
INMINDS Twitter Feed
Boycott Israel Campaign
Featured Video's
You need Flash player 8+ and JavaScript enabled to view this video.
Why boycott Israel on Campus[1:50:05]
12 London universities discuss need for BDS on campuses. Speakers include Rafeef Ziadeh, Ilan Pappe, Karma Nabulsi & Mike Cushman
Love Letters to Gaza[31:08]
A unique theatrical event using personal messages of love, support and hope from people of all ages and all walks of life to the people of Gaza.
John Pilger[7:55]
journalist and documentary maker
Antiwar Mass Assembly 8 Oct 2011
Julian Assange[7:07]
founder of WikiLeaks
Antiwar Mass Assembly 8 Oct 2011
Lauren Booth, Sami Ramadani & Yvonne Ridley[6:28]
Reading the names of the dead
Antiwar Mass Assembly 8 Oct 2011
George Galloway[6:39]
Antiwar Mass Assembly 8 Oct 2011
Jemima Khan[8:42]
Antiwar Mass Assembly 8 Oct 2011
Why Boycott Marks & Spencer 2011?[23:29]
Demo outside M&S Oxford Street(24 Sept 2011)
Sean Clinton[4:59]
Israeli Blood Diamonds Campaign
Al Quds Day rally, Trafalgar Square (31 Aug 2011)
Lauren Booth[5:24]
Al Quds Day rally, Trafalgar Square (31 Aug 2011)
Lauren Booth - Prayer for Gaza[2:46]
Al Quds Day rally, Trafalgar Square (31 Aug 2011)
Benny Morris - Historian or Racist?[34:07]
Activists oppose visit of racist Israeli historian Benny Morris who justifies ethnic cleansing and genocide.
Is Israel applying apartheid?[2:12:56]
Speakers: Yael Kahn, Jody McIntyre and Ghada Karmi (5 May 2011)
Karen Mitchell[48:27]
Partner at Thompsons Solicitors
Life changing visit to Palestine in 2008 (21 Feb 2011)
Ramzy Baroud[1:59:32]
Editor-in-chief of the Palestine Chronicle
"My Father Was A Freedom Fighter - Gaza's Untold Story" (25 Mar 2011)
Women United in the Intifada[2:31:36]
Speakers: Lizzie Cocker, Ewa Jasiewcz, Alaa Kassim, Yvonney Ridley, Isis Amlak, Sukant Chandan, Ramzy Baroud (14 Mar 2011)
George Galloway[1:01:48]
Solidarity with the Middle-East Revolution, support the people - oppose US/UK intervention (SOAS, 11 Mar 2011)
Omar Barghouti[55:08]
BDS Movement co-founder
"Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions" book launch (7 Mar 2011)
Shir Hever[1:49:09]
Alternative Information Centre
The Political Economy of Israel's Occupation, Kings College London (17 Feb 2011)
Why academic boycott of Israel[1:29:37]
Speakers: Mohammed Abuabdou(PSCABI), Mike Cushman(BRICUP), Jodey McIntyre(activist) (8 Feb 2011)
Dashed Hopes - Gaza Blockade[1:23:08]
Mohammed-Ali Abu Najela (Oxfam), Andrea Becker (MAP), Ewa Jasiewicz (Free Gaza Movement) (1 Feb 2011)
Jordan Valley: Apartheid[1:17:12]
Sarah Cobham(Brighton Jordan Valley Solidarity), Chris Osmond (Corporate Watch) (House of Commons, 1 Feb 2011)
Dump Veolia Demo[7:00]
Protesting at settlement supporter Veolia's sponsership of exhibit at the Natural History Museum (23 Oct 2010)
Boycott Israeli Dates [1/2][9:11]
Are you financing Israels brutal occupation this Ramadan?
Boycott Israeli Dates [2/2][9:05]
Are you financing Israels brutal occupation this Ramadan?
Lee Jasper [1/2][10:13]
[4 of 8] Genocide Memorial Day 2010 Session One, 17-1-2010
Lee Jasper [2/2][9:51]
[5 of 8] Genocide Memorial Day 2010 Session One, 17-1-2010
One Oppressor One Bullet[8:11]
Imam Achmad Cassiem, veteran of the armed struggle against apartheid in South Africa, speaks at the StW rally (London, 19 Feb 2005)
Salwa Alenat [1/2][9:56]
KavLaOved (Workers Rights hotline)
[1 of 8] Israel's Occupation - Abuse of Palestinian Workers (LSE 19 Nov 2009)
Salwa Alenat [2/2][8:57]
KavLaOved (Workers Rights hotline)
[2 of 8] Israel's Occupation - Abuse of Palestinian Workers (LSE 19 Nov 2009)
For Anwar [1of2][10:01]
Carmel Agrexco Valentines Action 7 Feb 2009
For Anwar [2of2][9:56]
Carmel Agrexco Valentines Action 7 Feb 2009
big
[all videos (over 200)..]
Featured MP3 Podcast

During the holy month of Ramadan, as we move towards the Eid, I was going around Muslim shops in Tower Hamlets and elsewhere telling them that although they had collection boxes for the Mosque, although they had religious imagery in their shops, although they were selling dates to the faithful people to break their fast - the dates were made in Israel! They were stained with the blood of the Palestinian people! And Muslim shop keepers were selling them!
Respect MP for Tower Hamlets
Respect Youth Tower Hamlets, Feb 2008 [21min / 11Mb]
[need flash]

[all podcasts..]
Newsletter
To subscribe
enter your email:

COPY VERIFICATION CODEcopy this code —>
Feedback
If you wish to comment on this page:

(all fields optional)



COPY VERIFICATION CODEcopy this code —>
The opinions expressed on this site, unless otherwise stated, are those of the authors.
All logos & trademarks are the property of their respective owners and their use is covered under 'fair use' policy.
Copyright © 1998-2012 Innovative Minds www.inminds.com All Rights Reserved.
The opinions expressed on this site, unless otherwise stated, are those of the authors.
All logos & trademarks are the property of their respective owners and their use is covered under 'fair use' policy.
Copyright © 1998-2012 Innovative Minds www.inminds.com All Rights Reserved.