Banning a Palestinian peace activist from speaking at Green Party conference would be a gift to the Israeli right
The Ancient Greek writer Aeschylus observed that, in war, truth is often the first casualty. However, in the increasingly polarised discourse surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is more likely to be empathy. As the Green Party gathers for its Autumn conference, a party rooted in social justice, there is a call to ‘deplatform’ Sally Abed, a young Palestinian activist.
Abed is scheduled to address a conference fringe via video on behalf of Standing Together, a peace movement based in Israel and jointly led by Arabs and Jews. Her virtual presence, it is claimed, would ‘normalise’ the violence being perpetrated by the Israeli government in Gaza. This is a dangerous misreading of the situation. Providing a platform for a Palestinian member of Standing Together is not an act of ‘normalisation’; it is, in Abed’s words, a vital step toward ‘radical empathy’ and an effective expression of solidarity with those on the left opposing the Netanyahu Government.
I feel that I need to state at this point that I am no fan of the Netanyahu government and believe our own government must do much more to end the war. This includes ending all defence contracts, arms sales and ensuring those responsible for the genocide in Gaza are prosecuted for war crimes. But true solidarity means engaging with all who seek peace, not just those who share a narrow view of how to achieve it.
Inviting a Palestinian from Standing Together represents a unique form of “co-resistance,” demonstrating that a path to liberation can be forged in collaboration with those Jewish and Arab Israelis who are also committed to justice and equality. Their presence at conference creates a crucial space for dissent and, for those still unconvinced by their commitment or methods, an opportunity for debate.
Abed and Standing Together are not seeking to normalise the status quo. On the contrary, their very appearance is an act of radical opposition to the Israeli right wing for whom Standing Together is a thorn in their side.
For example, Standing Together’s ‘Humanitarian Guard,’ has taken tangible action to protect Palestinian lives. They regularly protect aid convoys en route to Gaza from attacks by Israeli far-right extremists. Their presence has been crucial in forcing authorities to intervene and ensure safe passage. They are not there to whitewash the actions of the Israeli government but to expose them. Only this month, Standing Together activists invaded the studios of the pro-Netanyahu Channel 14 disrupting broadcast of a far-right talk show with messages of support for the Palestinians under occupation. Standing Together are an acknowledgement of the existence of internal dissent, a crucial part of any genuine path toward peace and justice.
Those of us old enough to remember the 30-year ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland will recall the critical role played by grassroots, cross-border initiatives like the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition. They too were met with scepticism and faced pressure from hard-line factions who viewed any collaboration as a betrayal. Yet, the trust and mutual understanding they fostered laid the groundwork for the Good Friday Agreement.
The Greens, more than any other political force, are living proof of the power of community engagement and dialogue. We need to be working with those inside and outside of Israel who want peace. The Standing Together movement is not the enemy. They have called out Netanyahu’s extremist government at every opportunity. If the Greens ban Abed from speaking, no one will be happier than Israel’s Prime Minister.
Judge for yourself:
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As a member of the Green Party and long-term supporter of the BDS movement I am appalled that anyone in this Party should try to stop a young Palestinian activist from speaking from her “on the ground” lived experience. I am also a member of UK Friends of Standing Together and could refute many of the points made by those who seek to boycott Standing Together, but I would prefer to defer to Sally’s greater knowledge and experience. If we are being called upon to listen to Palestinian voices, let us listen to hers and raise our questions and concerns with her.
As a Palestinian, I find this article deeply disappointing for several reasons. I don’t understand the strong push for Standing Together to be part of the Green Party conference — especially since this is not a “Free Palestine” conference.
I also reject the framing of “Arabs and Jews.” The reality is Palestinians and Israelis, or more accurately, natives and colonisers. The language used here risks erasing that truth.
I am sceptical of the so-called “performative” tactics such as protecting aid convoys to Gaza. Given the famine, we all know that no significant aid has reached Gaza — so what exactly are they protecting? Likewise, the claim about interrupting a live TV programme feels theatrical at best; television networks don’t air shows with zero delay, so the idea that they “stormed” a broadcast sounds like a staged performance rather than real disruption.
I also take issue with describing the atrocities as actions of “Netanyahu’s government.” The violence and oppression Palestinians face did not begin with this government, and reducing it to one administration erases decades of systemic brutality.
I will be writing my own article soon, where I will share my experience with Standing Together and explain why, as a Palestinian, I do not want this group to be part of the Green conference.
The voices of all Palestinians need to be heard. Not all Palestinians have the same view and my intention was never to imply this. There are several fringe meetings at conference on the topic of Palestine. My understanding was that inviting a Palestinian member of Standing Together was to try and introduce a perspective from the left opposition, peace movement within Israel.
The article doesn’t use the framing “Arabs and Jews”. Those words appear precisely once each. The framing is as you say it should be: Palestinians and Israelis. The leadership of ST is 50% Palestinian. ST itself does not talk about Jews snd Arabs.
Protecting aid convoy, and protecting Palestinians attacked by settlers in Jerusalem on the West Bank, is the opposite of performative: it is the concrete practice of solidarity. Every piece of aid that ST activists enable to reach Gaza is keeping somebody alive, not an empty performance. Grand statements against “normalisation”, on the other hand, or nothing but performative.
https://ukfost.co.uk/solidarity-with-standing-together-a-response-to-calls-for-a-boycott
Thanks for writing this Craig. I was very disappointed to hear about moves to ban this fringe speaker and I think less of the Greens because of it.
Given there is no military solution to the ongoing genocide we should build as broad and inclusive movement as possible rather than insisting the only people who can speak must all have identical things to say.
Let her speak. Our government is facilitating genocide
I did not join the Green Party to ban those with views I might disagree with. We should listen to others and learn and not always assume we are in possession of the whole truth.
For me, the violence against Gaza and the Palestinians can never be normalised. I may look and act like the the person I was before, but a part of me deep inside is changed. I’ve lost the ability to believe that those in charge of us, in whom we put our trust, have a level of moral conduct.
I would very much welcome a peace activist as a speaker.