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The National
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
SNP members call for 'reparative action' after Israel meeting minutes revealed
Trade unionists in the SNP have raised alarm after an exclusive report revealed the secret minutes of a meeting between Robertson and ambassador Daniela Grudsky after a 10-month Freedom of Information battle. It came to light that the Scottish Government had called Israel a "critical friend", despite publicly denouncing the atrocities it has carried out amid the genocide in Gaza. READ MORE: UK Government facing legal action over refusal of medical evacuations from Gaza Simon Barrow, national secretary of the [[SNP]] Trade Union Group (the party's largest affiliate body), said "no regime involved in trying to eradicate the people of Gaza" could be considered 'critical friend' by Scotland. 'For many months, trade unionists across Scotland have spoken and acted in strong solidarity with the Palestinian people, with all those in Israel who are opposing their government's war crimes, and against the genocide in Gaza," Barrow said. He added: 'SNP trade unionists stand with them. No regime involved in trying to eradicate the people of Gaza and deny statehood, justice and dignity to the Palestinians can possibly be considered a 'critical friend' by Scotland, and we reject any notion of excuse towards, appeasement of, or complicity with the horrors taking place in real time. 'We hope that the First Minister will make all that abundantly clear, and will take appropriate reparative action in the light of the disclosures by The National, and its commendable and responsible journalism and commentary on Israel-Palestine, [[Gaza]] and the Middle East.' Among the details revealed in the Sunday National by The Ferret were that an unnamed Scottish Government official had said: 'Transparency is obviously a good thing, but it takes up such a lot of our time.' While Swinney has publicly referenced the 'killing and suffering of civilians', the minutes suggest that Robertson adopted a more reserved tone with Grudsky, noting that 'every effort must be taken to reduce civilian casualties'. In a 'profound apology' issued to delegates at the SNP conference on September 1 last year, after heavy criticism from within the party, Robertson said one of the Scottish Government's priorities for the meeting was to express its support for an 'end of UK arms being sent to Israel'. There is no mention of this in the minutes released. The SNP have been approached for comment.
The National
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Greens press SNP over secret Israeli ambassador meeting
It comes after an exclusive report by The Ferret for The National was published, where the secret minutes of a meeting between MSP Angus Robertson and ambassador Daniela Grudsky were revealed. It has come to light that the Scottish Government had called Israel a "critical friend", despite publicly denouncing the atrocities it has carried out amidst the genocide in Gaza. READ MORE: UK Government facing legal action over refusal of medical evacuations from Gaza In response, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said to The National: 'Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, yet the SNP still think it's acceptable to be 'critical friends' with a regime that's blatantly committing war crimes against innocent civilians. 'This is beyond shameful. 'This meeting with the Israeli regime stands in stark contrast with the SNP's stated opposition to the occupation of Gaza and the ongoing genocide. 'They rightly criticise the UK Government's disgraceful complicity, but when it comes to taking action in Scotland, time and again they have failed to deliver.' The report follows a 10-month freedom of information (FoI) battle between the Government and The Ferret, where an unnamed Scottish official said: 'Transparency is obviously a good thing, but it takes up such a lot of our time.' READ MORE: Farage wrecked Britain and risks Aberdeen's future, Flynn warns The FoI requests were prompted after Grudsky shared an image on Twitter/X of her and Robertson, which left a 'schism' within the SNP. 'If the Scottish Government truly considers Israel's vicious government as any kind of friend, then why did they spend 10 months trying to keep these minutes from the public?', Harvie continued. 'We urgently need John Swinney and the Scottish Government to explain why their minister was cosying up to Netanyahu's representative in a secret meeting.'
