Blog 6 - We need more of a say (2) - Gaza

Standard header - In these blogs current political events are illuminated by reference to the basic relationships explained in ‘Us, Politics and The System.’ The plan is to do a new blog at least once a week, on Fridays, probably with more in between.

Protesting is not enough. Some big protests have made a difference, like the Civil Rights marches in the US in the 60’s, and some of the big regime-change protests in Eastern Europe around 1990. But most are futile, like the massive protests against the UK invading Iraq. Protests are short-lived noise vaguely addressed to the leader or government that are easily ignored, involving no exercise of any real rights or process. We need proper access to power and decision-making.

In the UK, we can write to our MP’s. It’s not much of a right, as will be discussed in this 'We need more of a say' series of blogs. But, feeling angry and powerless like many people are over Gaza, I figured my MP is a person who does actually have the power, along with other MP‘s, to force Keir Starmer into action or replace him. So here is my recent letter to him. Not got a response yet but you might like to do something similar -

Dear J,

Could you please give us answers to the following questions -

1. What exactly is the extent of UK military support for Israel?

- The often-discussed sale of Arms and military equipment?

- Or also Direct involvement with Israeli military action?

(a Palestine support group were quoted in the Guardian recently saying the UK was re-fuelling Israeli military aircraft).

- Other support like intelligence?

2. Why does the UK support Israel? Is it acquiescence and support for long-standing US policy as summarised here -

Our understanding is that US support for Israel is in order to have a co-operative state in the region as a deterrent to the Arab oil states becoming too free to differ from Western business interests. That includes oil supplies but probably also western business investments in other resources and access for American business people to markets.

3. If so, is it not the case that the UK and we in the Labour party should not continue with this support since Israel is now engaged in mass slaughter of people in Gaza? Plus what they do in the West Bank.

4. Who decides Labour policy and actions on Israeli military action? Is it just Keir Starmer? The Cabinet? The Parliamentary party? The NEC?

- What rights to influence it do we ordinary members have?

‘We need more of say’ will be continued over the next week or so, linked to other current issues, taxing the rich to fund public services being the next.

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