Scottish independence could be positive for Palestine

Jalal Abukhater 18 August 2014

Smile for Scotland: Alex Salmond, the first minister in the Edinburgh government, with Jalal Abukhater. (Facebook)

On 18 September — one month from today — a referendum will be held to determine if Scotland should remain in the United Kingdom.

As a Palestinian living in Scotland, I’ve been arguing in favor of independence. To Palestinians, it is natural to believe that all peoples have the right to self-determination.

Of course, I’m not trying to claim that the question of Palestine is central to this referendum. Nor should it be. But I do believe that Scottish independence could have positive effects beyond Scotland’s borders.

That isn’t to say that Scotland will have genuine independence if a majority votes “yes.” More than likely, deals will be done to allow it remain in NATO — a US-led military alliance — and the European Union — a political club largely subservient to America.

But a “divorce” from the UK would be an improvement on the status quo, whereby the Scottish people have no real say on British domestic or foreign policy.

Today, Scotland has 59 members of Parliament in Westminster. Just one of them belongs to the Conservative Party.

Out-of-touch

Yet Scotland is run by a government in London that is dominated by the Conservatives. This means that a government that is totally out of touch with Scotland sets policies affecting people here on every matter from social security to broadcasting.

This situation is not new. For most of the last 67 years, Scottish MPs have had little say in the composition of the British government. There have been rare exceptions: in 1964, Scottish politicians prevented the Conservatives from forming a government. The Labour government formed that year had a majority of just four and collapsed after a mere 18 months.

It is true that Scotland received the go-ahead from Westminster to set up a devolved parliament of its own in 1998. The devolved parliament has repeatedly taken decisions that are fairly distinct — if not radically different — from those of the UK government. Yet because the devolved government has no power over defense or foreign affairs, the statements made by its ministers have no tangible effect on UK policy. So the Scots have to endure foreign policy decisions that do not reflect the outlook of most Scottish voters.

There was a clear illustration of this reality during Israel’s most recent attack on Gaza.

Official statements issued in Edinburgh were far more critical of Israel than those from David Cameron’s government in London. Humza Yousaf, the Scottish minister for external affairs, called for “a complete suspension” of British arms sales to Israel until an investigation is conducted on whether British military equipment has been used in the current Israeli operation.

Cameron, on the other hand, gave Israel all the encouragement it needed. When Israel began its act of aggression against Gaza in July, Cameron “underlined Israel’s right to defend itself.”

Vince Cable, the business secretary in his government, has announced that nearly all of the weapons deliveries promised to Israel may proceed — with only twelve export licenses being rescinded if “significant” hostilities resume.

Facilitating war crimes

The latest issue of the Scottish newspaper the Sunday Mail reports that parts of the “smart” bombs recently dropped in Gaza are manufactured in Scotland. Raytheon, a US weapons-firm, is one of just two suppliers of the Paveway II bomb that was recently photographed destroying a residential building in Gaza.

The laser-guidance systems for those bombs are made at Raytheon’s plant in the Scottish county of Fife.

If the Scottish minister’s call for an arms embargo was taken seriously, Raytheon would no longer be permitted to make components destined for Israel in Scotland. To their shame, however, Vince Cable and other figures in the London government appear determined to keep on arming Israel.

Arms made in Scotland will continue to facilitate war crimes in Gaza.

No panacea

I’m not claiming that Scottish independence will offer a panacea. Nor, to my knowledge, are most campaigners for a “yes” vote.

They are concerned about a range of issues: saving the National Health Service from privatization; ridding this country of Trident nuclear submarines; securing a more representative democracy in the hope of ensuring a brighter future for their children and grandchildren.

The campaigners are realistic enough to know there is a lot of work ahead. Scots should never place their faith in governments or institutions. The powerful must always be under pressure from grassroots activism.

For me, the key issue is democracy. Grassroots activists in Scotland would have a greater chance to influence an independent government than one in London. I realize that Scotland will have its scope for introducing a progressive foreign policy restricted so long as it is part of the EU and NATO.

But ordinary people would still be more likely to have their voices heard if Scotland achieves independence. This could prove vital on issues such as where Scotland may sell weapons and whether or not Scotland should support foreign invasions. That’s why I am convinced that a “yes” vote could only be a positive thing.

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Comments

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James Smyth replied on

"For me, the key issue is democracy. Grassroots activists in Scotland would have a greater chance to influence an independent government than one in London."

This is the fundamental point that the Scottish electorate need to grasp. People having the ability to affect change in their own political sphere is the sine qua non of any society that purports to be Democratic.

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Richard Cameron replied on

Yes, the key issue is democracy. And we Scots will have the democratic right to go for all you suggest above or to stay in the UK. And without a doubt we'll vote to stay in the UK - the most successful union of free nations states ever!

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Kieran Kelly replied on

I'm sure you Scots can work out for yourselves what is best for the people of Scotland, but from a global perspective a yes vote is a no-brainer. It would be a blow to Eurocentric chauvinist arrogance and a direct erosion of the Anglo-US empire's ability to "sell" its aggressive and genocidal acts.

I have always found it profoundly disgusting that whilst viciously sowing division, violence and instability in the world the UK government blames its victims by saying that they have these deep-rooted ethnic or sectarian divisions. These are divisions that the English have been creating and exploiting for hundreds of years. How many tens of thousands have died in the civil war in Iraq that the UK helped create? And yet the political leadership of a state which is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - 3 countries plus part of a fourth entirely different country - distracts from the blood on their hands by blaming the victims and their divisions.

If the Scots leave the Union, though, suddenly the blithe smug Anglo-arrogance of people like Cameron will ring even more hollow. Their self-arrogated right to "help" lesser countries is entirely based on the notion that they themselves are so utterly and unquestionably wonderful that everyone wants to be like them.

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Mobeen replied on

Wish and pray Scotland becomes independent and completely free from the clutches of UK Government and their influence on the lives of ordinary Scottish people and their affairs who simply know better and can do better than their counterparts ever stuck in the status quo and believe in fooling the masses.

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Tess replied on

I agree with James and Mobeen. Scotland has everything it requires to become a flourishing independant state. Long live Scotland!
Richard, the UK is not a democracy.

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david replied on

Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens are meant to participate equally

Oh wait, we didn't get what WE wanted so let's leave the union and get the result we want.
As daft as saying My town didn't get the government we voted for, let's go independent then.

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Mobeen replied on

To All Scots, Seize this moment in History and Leave a Mark in this World
I believe U.K & Scotland both will come out more stronger than before. By becoming independent Scots can chart their own destiny by having no strings attached and allow only limited to no influence of the mother U.K that is not possible today.

Jalal Abukhater

Jalal Abukhater's picture

Jalal Abukhater is a Jerusalemite, he is a graduate MA(hons) International Relations and Politics from the University of Dundee, Scotland.