Scottish Government Suspends Meetings with Israeli Ministers over War on Gaza
The Scottish government has said it is suspending meetings with the Israeli government until “real progress” is made in Gaza ceasefire talks.
The move comes amid calls for the suspension of Scotland’s external affairs secretary, Angus Robertson, following his decision to hold a secret meeting with Daniela Grudsky Ekstein, Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UK.
Robertson subsequently apologised for the meeting, which he said was held in secret at Israel’s request.
The minister also pledged that the government would reject future invitations from Israel until it “co-operates fully with its international obligations on the investigation of genocide and war crimes.”
Robertson added that he had agreed to the meeting to reiterate the government’s “clear and unwavering” support for a ceasefire.
He admitted, however, that the discussion was not “strictly limited” to the issue.
“Going forward, it is clear that, having now spoken directly to the Israeli government and making them aware of our position on an immediate ceasefire, it would not be appropriate to accept any invitation for a further meeting,” he said.
Robertson has faced fierce backlash from critics following the meeting, with some accusing him of trying to normalise relations with Israel and saying that the move marks a departure from the government’s approach to the state under former First Minister Humza Yousef.
One of the ruling Scottish National Party’s (SNP) most senior lawmakers, Christine Grahame, reportedly protested to First Minister John Swinney, saying that Robertson was a “liability” and had shown “poor judgement” in agreeing to the meeting.
The announcement follows the expulsion of SNP lawmaker John Mason who claimed in a post on X: “If Israel wanted to commit genocide, they would have killed ten times as many.”
