1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:06,640 so yeah next up we've got george um 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:08,639 who needs no introduction 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:12,240 [Applause] 4 00:00:08,639 --> 00:00:16,640 thank you very much for that 5 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:17,359 kindest of introductions been a good day 6 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:20,720 for me 7 00:00:17,359 --> 00:00:22,400 so far manchester united won in fairgate 8 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,080 time 9 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:27,680 the fascists didn't get out of the 10 00:00:24,080 --> 00:00:27,680 railway station in liverpool 11 00:00:29,599 --> 00:00:36,079 and here in chester on a dark saturday 12 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,960 afternoon we have this magnificent 13 00:00:36,079 --> 00:00:40,079 meeting 14 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:44,160 for palestine so my first duty is to 15 00:00:40,079 --> 00:00:47,120 thank you and the organizers for 16 00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:48,239 this event and for giving me this 17 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,879 opportunity to 18 00:00:48,239 --> 00:00:51,760 speak i do most of my speaking nowadays 19 00:00:50,879 --> 00:00:55,360 on 20 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:59,920 radio and television and thanks to ofcom 21 00:00:55,360 --> 00:01:03,120 the orwellian presence in the corner 22 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:04,720 in fact standing over my neck 23 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:06,640 i don't get a chance to speak about 24 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:10,799 palestine very 25 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:14,240 often so in fact not at all never again 26 00:01:10,799 --> 00:01:18,240 in fact on television or on 27 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:21,439 radio so it's good to be able to see 28 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:25,520 an audience and to have the opportunity 29 00:01:21,439 --> 00:01:27,040 to address you on this subject 30 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:29,520 shabir when you were a little boy in 31 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:31,840 kenya i was 32 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:33,439 one of the founders of the stop the war 33 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:36,799 coalition 34 00:01:33,439 --> 00:01:40,400 and we did thanks to the leadership 35 00:01:36,799 --> 00:01:43,439 of lindsay german and andrew murray 36 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:46,479 make a decision then and there 37 00:01:43,439 --> 00:01:49,600 that palestine could not be separated 38 00:01:46,479 --> 00:01:51,520 from the issue of stopping the war that 39 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:56,000 was not an uncontested 40 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:58,960 point of view there were many people 41 00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:00,479 some important ones and with decent 42 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:03,920 arguments 43 00:02:00,479 --> 00:02:06,640 that we will weaken our stand against 44 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:07,280 the invasions of afghanistan and iraq if 45 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:11,120 we 46 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:13,920 bring in an extraneous issue which is 47 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:16,319 more divisive than the central one of 48 00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:19,760 stopping the war 49 00:02:16,319 --> 00:02:22,640 but our leaders argued 50 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:23,040 there's nothing extraneous about it at 51 00:02:22,640 --> 00:02:25,920 all 52 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:27,200 in fact it's the other side of the same 53 00:02:25,920 --> 00:02:29,520 coin 54 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,879 that the oppression of the palestinian 55 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:33,920 people 56 00:02:30,879 --> 00:02:38,000 is part of an imperialist project 57 00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:41,360 the latest example of which is the 58 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:44,560 current invasion and subsequent 59 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:47,760 occupation of afghanistan and the 60 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:50,720 imminent invasion and occupation 61 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:51,360 of iraq and that it would have been 62 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:54,760 wholly 63 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:58,800 unnatural and just 64 00:02:54,760 --> 00:03:01,680 counterproductive to turn our face away 65 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:03,040 from the palestinian issue whilst 66 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:05,519 agitating 67 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,959 for stop the war and i believe that that 68 00:03:05,519 --> 00:03:10,640 stand 69 00:03:06,959 --> 00:03:14,480 pioneered by lindsay german and andrew 70 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:16,319 murray has been amply vindicated 71 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:18,720 in all the years since and you've grown 72 00:03:16,319 --> 00:03:19,440 up to be a very fine young man and 73 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:23,920 leader 74 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:26,080 now of the stop the war coalition 75 00:03:23,920 --> 00:03:27,360 i would like to say a few words if i may 76 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:30,159 before 77 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:32,000 the main burden of my remarks about 78 00:03:30,159 --> 00:03:35,680 someone that has been now twice 79 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:38,319 referred to chris williamson 80 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,760 who is a matter of fact on our 81 00:03:38,319 --> 00:03:42,959 television program 82 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:45,920 today just by chance 83 00:03:42,959 --> 00:03:47,120 chris williamson is one of the most 84 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:50,159 outstanding 85 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:51,040 socialist agitators and organizers in 86 00:03:50,159 --> 00:03:54,879 the country 87 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:58,000 today he is a man of 88 00:03:54,879 --> 00:04:03,360 impeccable credentials 89 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:06,720 and integrity and not just the sheffield 90 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:09,280 so-called labor students have banned him 91 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:12,640 from sheffield university 92 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:15,439 but today the swansea so-called labour 93 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,720 students have also banned him from 94 00:04:15,439 --> 00:04:20,239 coming to their 95 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:23,680 university we cannot allow this 96 00:04:20,239 --> 00:04:26,720 to go on you cannot throw 97 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:29,840 one person after another after another 98 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:30,639 to the tiger in the hope that it will be 99 00:04:29,840 --> 00:04:36,400 seated 100 00:04:30,639 --> 00:04:36,400 before it gets to you on the contrary 101 00:04:36,639 --> 00:04:41,840 after jackie walker mark wadsworth and 102 00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:44,560 so many others now 103 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:45,520 they've turned to a man who many people 104 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:49,919 would 105 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:52,400 consider would be an exceptionally good 106 00:04:49,919 --> 00:04:53,759 deputy leader of the labour party 107 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,240 certainly better than the one 108 00:04:53,759 --> 00:04:57,759 the labour party's got now if he were to 109 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:00,240 run against tom watson 110 00:04:57,759 --> 00:05:00,880 he would win the deputy leadership of 111 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,680 the 112 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,680 labour party 113 00:05:04,479 --> 00:05:12,320 which is why they have now turned on him 114 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:17,120 they want to carbonize mcdonald's 115 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:20,639 hemp one after another to eliminate 116 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:24,400 potential leading figures 117 00:05:20,639 --> 00:05:25,039 who have a clear view not just about 118 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:28,080 domestic 119 00:05:25,039 --> 00:05:29,919 politics which they can tolerate up to a 120 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:32,960 point 121 00:05:29,919 --> 00:05:34,800 but on international politics which they 122 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:37,520 cannot 123 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:38,000 and so i appeal to you and anyone 124 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:40,640 watching 125 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:42,080 this on the streaming 126 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:45,199 [Music] 127 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:48,000 enough is enough this far no further 128 00:05:45,199 --> 00:05:49,039 stand with chris williamson defend chris 129 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:52,160 williamson 130 00:05:49,039 --> 00:05:57,120 because after williamson 131 00:05:52,160 --> 00:06:01,199 they'll simply move on to the next 132 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:03,440 now i've been doing this a long time i 133 00:06:01,199 --> 00:06:04,479 was looking at mcnapier up on the stage 134 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:08,240 and 135 00:06:04,479 --> 00:06:12,400 realizing how old he and i now look 136 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:12,400 compared to the likes of shabir 137 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:17,520 mek where are you no offense intended 138 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,720 all of our adult lives we've been in 139 00:06:21,919 --> 00:06:26,160 meetings 140 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:28,479 like this in fact i'm older than you and 141 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:29,280 so me even longer i became involved in 142 00:06:28,479 --> 00:06:32,960 this 143 00:06:29,280 --> 00:06:36,560 issue in 1975 there's a comrade here 144 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:39,600 got involved in it in 1967. 145 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:41,280 this has been a long struggle in a way 146 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:44,639 the 147 00:06:41,280 --> 00:06:46,840 central struggle of most of our lives 148 00:06:44,639 --> 00:06:48,240 and for some people that arouses 149 00:06:46,840 --> 00:06:51,680 suspicion 150 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:56,319 i'm frequently asked usually 151 00:06:51,680 --> 00:07:00,720 wrapped around in insulting epithets 152 00:06:56,319 --> 00:07:04,240 why are you so obsessed they call it 153 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:05,759 with the palestine question 154 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:08,240 well as a matter of fact i'm not i'm 155 00:07:05,759 --> 00:07:10,720 involved in lots of 156 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:13,039 questions i've very recently been 157 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:16,960 outside the saudi arabian 158 00:07:13,039 --> 00:07:19,759 embassy shaking my fist at them 159 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:22,560 it wasn't an anti-arab stand still less 160 00:07:19,759 --> 00:07:26,880 was at an anti-islamic stand 161 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:31,440 it was a stand against foul 162 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:35,120 reactionaries hyenas 163 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:39,280 of the same imperialist project 164 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:39,280 that we are discussing here 165 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:44,160 and if you want the truth i got involved 166 00:07:42,639 --> 00:07:48,000 in the palestine issue 167 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:52,400 in 1975 because we just won 168 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:54,400 my previous central cause 169 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:55,759 when we chased the american ambassador 170 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:59,840 off the roof of the 171 00:07:55,759 --> 00:08:03,919 u.s embassy in saigon in vietnam 172 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:07,120 it was part of the same theme for me 173 00:08:03,919 --> 00:08:11,120 opposition to imperialism 174 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:16,080 and the vietnamese people won through 175 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:18,319 overwhelmingly through their own heroism 176 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:21,280 with some help from an international 177 00:08:18,319 --> 00:08:26,080 solidarity movement 178 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:29,199 and when they won some of us moved on 179 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:31,440 to help build the international 180 00:08:29,199 --> 00:08:32,240 solidarity movement with palestine which 181 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:35,760 we now 182 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:37,039 have all over the world and for the same 183 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:40,560 reason 184 00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:42,719 as they are now attacking williamson 185 00:08:40,560 --> 00:08:44,159 it's the reason why they're now 186 00:08:42,719 --> 00:08:47,640 attacking 187 00:08:44,159 --> 00:08:51,040 bugging burgling subverting 188 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:54,880 impersonating hoaxing 189 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:58,480 us because they're losing 190 00:08:54,880 --> 00:09:02,160 because they're scared of the advances 191 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:05,360 that we are making i watched yesterday 192 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:10,000 if you haven't yet you must 193 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:12,800 the second part of al jazeera's 194 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:15,040 the lobby i'll come back to the first 195 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:17,680 part in a moment 196 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:20,720 the second part deals with the lobby in 197 00:09:17,680 --> 00:09:20,720 the united states 198 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:24,080 so dangerous is it 199 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:32,800 that the entire might of u.s imperialism 200 00:09:27,839 --> 00:09:36,000 was brought to bear on the throat 201 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:39,120 of the tiny sheikhdom of 202 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:42,160 qatar which owns al jazeera 203 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:42,720 to force them not to broadcast the 204 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:47,839 program 205 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:50,880 but god is great somebody's leaked it 206 00:09:47,839 --> 00:09:53,040 and now you can watch it for free and 207 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:57,040 you must 208 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:59,200 because laid there 209 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:01,680 in their own words with their lips 210 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:01,680 moving 211 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:08,959 they tell the brave jewish 212 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:09,360 undercover al jazeera reporter who is 213 00:10:08,959 --> 00:10:12,800 there 214 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:13,279 posing as one of them when in fact he's 215 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:16,800 one of 216 00:10:13,279 --> 00:10:19,839 us they damn themselves 217 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,839 condemn themselves 218 00:10:20,079 --> 00:10:28,079 with their absolutely illegal 219 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:28,800 immoral unethical campaign to try and 220 00:10:28,079 --> 00:10:32,560 disrupt 221 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:34,959 and destroy those who are making such 222 00:10:32,560 --> 00:10:36,480 advances around the world including in 223 00:10:34,959 --> 00:10:38,560 the united states 224 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,519 and including amongst young jewish 225 00:10:38,560 --> 00:10:43,279 people 226 00:10:39,519 --> 00:10:46,399 in the united states the victories 227 00:10:43,279 --> 00:10:50,000 for bds have got them 228 00:10:46,399 --> 00:10:53,519 so worried that they've 229 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,839 brought in a new ministry the ministry 230 00:10:53,519 --> 00:10:58,320 for 231 00:10:53,839 --> 00:11:01,920 strategic affairs which is situated 232 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:04,959 in netanyahu's own office 233 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:08,399 in occupied jerusalem 234 00:11:04,959 --> 00:11:09,839 which is staffed by some of the 235 00:11:08,399 --> 00:11:13,440 brightest 236 00:11:09,839 --> 00:11:15,680 brains in the israeli intelligence 237 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:18,320 community 238 00:11:15,680 --> 00:11:20,640 and with their own words in the al 239 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:23,680 jazeera program 240 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:24,240 they tell us about the things we kind of 241 00:11:23,680 --> 00:11:26,560 knew 242 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:28,079 certainly suspected have probably been 243 00:11:26,560 --> 00:11:31,600 the victims of 244 00:11:28,079 --> 00:11:35,279 the sock puppet twitter accounts the 245 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:36,480 deliberate dog piling on people who are 246 00:11:35,279 --> 00:11:39,760 against them 247 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:43,360 on social media the 248 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:47,760 impersonation fake accounts 249 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:49,200 you've seen it yes i'm a jeremy corbyn 250 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:53,120 supporter and 251 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:57,680 i hate jewish people and all these other 252 00:11:53,120 --> 00:12:01,279 foul impersonations 253 00:11:57,680 --> 00:12:06,160 the police are investigating 254 00:12:01,279 --> 00:12:06,880 17 people who claim to be labour party 255 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:10,480 members 256 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:13,600 who knows if they are 257 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:17,279 we know that because the bbc had it 258 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:18,399 as their number one item on the bbc news 259 00:12:17,279 --> 00:12:21,120 last night 260 00:12:18,399 --> 00:12:22,959 except they said the police were 261 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:26,639 investigating the labour party 262 00:12:22,959 --> 00:12:29,279 which was an out and out lie 263 00:12:26,639 --> 00:12:31,200 attested to by the commissioner of the 264 00:12:29,279 --> 00:12:32,399 metropolitan police cressida dick 265 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:35,200 earlier in the day 266 00:12:32,399 --> 00:12:36,160 yet on the 10 o'clock news number one 267 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:38,399 item 268 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:39,279 the police are investigating the labour 269 00:12:38,399 --> 00:12:43,360 party 270 00:12:39,279 --> 00:12:47,600 for anti-semitism an absolute brazen 271 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:47,600 lie must be an election coming up 272 00:12:48,959 --> 00:12:55,040 but these 17 people i have no idea 273 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:57,680 what they said or who they are 274 00:12:55,040 --> 00:13:00,240 how do we know they were not the same 275 00:12:57,680 --> 00:13:03,600 kind of provocateurs 276 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:06,079 that in the lobby 277 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:08,800 we have people on camera admitting 278 00:13:06,079 --> 00:13:11,600 themselves to being 279 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:13,680 one of the main stories in the lobby is 280 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:15,279 a provocation at the university of 281 00:13:13,680 --> 00:13:19,760 southern california davis 282 00:13:15,279 --> 00:13:23,519 usc davis which won a landmark 283 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:26,000 bds on the faculty a landmark bds 284 00:13:23,519 --> 00:13:26,000 victory 285 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:32,560 and israel orchestrated from jerusalem 286 00:13:32,639 --> 00:13:39,600 moved into a full-scale 287 00:13:35,839 --> 00:13:42,639 intelligence operation right down to 288 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:43,920 unknown unknown authors painting 289 00:13:42,639 --> 00:13:47,760 swastikas 290 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:51,120 on the walls of the fraternity house 291 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:55,519 of the jewish students at usc 292 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:58,880 davis when asked on camera by our brave 293 00:13:55,519 --> 00:14:02,560 undercover reporter who did these 294 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:06,320 swastikas the israeli embassy official 295 00:14:02,560 --> 00:14:08,880 smirks and says 296 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:10,639 you know we really don't know even 297 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:12,480 though they'd 298 00:14:10,639 --> 00:14:15,440 smeared around the whole world that it 299 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:18,720 was the pro-palestinian students 300 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:21,839 at usc davis that had 301 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:25,279 done this these provocations 302 00:14:21,839 --> 00:14:29,279 are a sign of weakness not a sign of 303 00:14:25,279 --> 00:14:33,600 strength they know 304 00:14:29,279 --> 00:14:33,600 that we are winning the argument 305 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:40,399 the anti-zionism 306 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:43,600 has nothing to do 307 00:14:40,399 --> 00:14:45,320 with being against jews 308 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:47,839 and that some of the finest 309 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:51,680 anti-zionists in the world 310 00:14:47,839 --> 00:14:55,760 are themselves jews they know 311 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:59,519 abba eban the labour zionist grande 312 00:14:55,760 --> 00:15:02,800 in the 1960s wrote 313 00:14:59,519 --> 00:15:06,560 our principle task 314 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:08,959 is to convince his words the gentile 315 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:08,959 world 316 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:14,000 that the difference between 317 00:15:10,959 --> 00:15:17,920 anti-semitism and anti-zionism 318 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:17,920 is a difference without a distinction 319 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:25,440 but of course it is absolutely 320 00:15:21,839 --> 00:15:28,800 a distinction if it 321 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:31,120 went then some of the 322 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:32,399 fine jewish people in this room today 323 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:36,240 would not 324 00:15:32,399 --> 00:15:40,000 be able to be here some of the 325 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:43,440 great agitators for palestine 326 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:44,480 like finkelstein and others would not be 327 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:49,120 able 328 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:52,160 to be with us the distinction 329 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:53,440 is absolute it's as clear as night and 330 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:56,959 day 331 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:59,440 and the idea that someone like jeremy 332 00:15:56,959 --> 00:15:59,440 corbyn 333 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:07,360 who loves manhole covers who grows 334 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,880 marrows on an allotment who bicycles 335 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:12,160 around london 336 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:16,560 who's been a left-wing agitator for 337 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:19,600 45 years can somehow 338 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:23,440 miraculously be 339 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:27,839 transformed into an anti-semite 340 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:32,160 is so absurd 341 00:16:27,839 --> 00:16:34,959 as absurd as it is offensive 342 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:36,959 but the key here shibuya and you 343 00:16:34,959 --> 00:16:40,000 displayed it 344 00:16:36,959 --> 00:16:40,639 is that we have to be clear but we have 345 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:43,920 to be 346 00:16:40,639 --> 00:16:48,079 firm and it was a grave 347 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:51,440 strategic mistake bicarbon 348 00:16:48,079 --> 00:16:52,240 and the labor leadership not to fight 349 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:54,959 this 350 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:56,079 on the first day on the front foot on 351 00:16:54,959 --> 00:17:05,520 the front line 352 00:16:56,079 --> 00:17:08,240 that was a grave strategic error 353 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:10,079 and many wounds have been sustained 354 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:13,199 since 355 00:17:10,079 --> 00:17:17,360 some of them self-inflicted 356 00:17:13,199 --> 00:17:18,959 as a result i paraphrase 357 00:17:17,360 --> 00:17:21,919 because i'm so angry about it this 358 00:17:18,959 --> 00:17:24,720 swansea university statement today 359 00:17:21,919 --> 00:17:25,679 attacks williamson for appearing on 360 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:28,240 platforms 361 00:17:25,679 --> 00:17:28,880 with people who've been expelled from 362 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:32,320 labor 363 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:35,080 for anti-semitism but that's a lie 364 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:38,080 none of the one's worth was cleared of 365 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,080 anti-semitism 366 00:17:39,360 --> 00:17:42,960 he has never said or done anything 367 00:17:41,360 --> 00:17:45,679 anti-semitic 368 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:48,559 the allegations against him were false 369 00:17:45,679 --> 00:17:48,559 and were dropped 370 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:56,080 i go back to my metaphor of the tiger 371 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:58,480 you can't keep throwing people to the 372 00:17:56,080 --> 00:18:01,760 tiger and think it's going to 373 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:06,400 tire of eating you but neither 374 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:10,720 can you defang a tiger claw by claw 375 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:14,240 because it won't let you you have to 376 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:18,400 be firm as well 377 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:24,400 as clear and that's why i appeal to you 378 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:24,400 to be firm on the williamson case 379 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:34,320 now the second reason why i got 380 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:37,840 so involved with this was that 381 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:37,840 it's our responsibility 382 00:18:37,919 --> 00:18:42,559 there are many causes it's true around 383 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:46,400 the world 384 00:18:42,559 --> 00:18:49,520 but they weren't all caused by us 385 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,520 although a lot of them were 386 00:18:49,679 --> 00:18:55,039 but this is our responsibility as i said 387 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:57,440 once in a speech which is well viewed on 388 00:18:55,039 --> 00:18:59,039 youtube in the house of commons this 389 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:02,080 tragedy was authored 390 00:18:59,039 --> 00:19:05,679 here in this building i said 391 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:08,880 when 101 years ago 392 00:19:05,679 --> 00:19:11,039 arthur balfour on behalf of one people 393 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:13,679 promised to a second people the land 394 00:19:11,039 --> 00:19:16,559 that belonged to a third people 395 00:19:13,679 --> 00:19:17,600 unique actually even by imperialist 396 00:19:16,559 --> 00:19:21,120 standards 397 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:21,840 we didn't even possess palestine as a 398 00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:25,360 colony 399 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:29,280 when we gave it away to someone 400 00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:32,799 else balfour 401 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:36,720 was a white supremacist 402 00:19:32,799 --> 00:19:40,160 he was an anti-semite 403 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:43,280 he wanted to create a little loyal 404 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:45,200 ulster as stores put it yes 405 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,880 but he also wanted all the jews in 406 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:50,000 england to leave 407 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:53,760 he wanted to see their backs leaving 408 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:57,440 because he didn't want them in britain 409 00:19:53,760 --> 00:20:00,720 he was our foreign secretary 410 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:04,720 and everything that we did 411 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:08,640 from the moment 101 years ago 412 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:11,760 made possible the 413 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:14,720 enduring agony calvary 414 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:16,400 of the palestinian people and it was 415 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:19,520 good today 416 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:23,520 the bits i saw that we didn't just 417 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:26,159 concentrate on the atrocities 418 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:26,159 22 419 00:20:26,919 --> 00:20:31,679 500 people have been wounded at the gaza 420 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:35,679 fence 421 00:20:31,679 --> 00:20:39,360 in the great return march since march 422 00:20:35,679 --> 00:20:44,320 22 500 423 00:20:39,360 --> 00:20:44,320 12 000 of those have been shot 424 00:20:45,039 --> 00:20:52,799 dozens of amputations people blinded 425 00:20:49,919 --> 00:20:56,240 their lives destroyed forever try being 426 00:20:52,799 --> 00:20:56,240 disabled in gaza 427 00:20:57,120 --> 00:21:02,960 try getting medical treatment in gaza 428 00:21:00,559 --> 00:21:03,919 and of course as you said hundreds 429 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:06,559 killed 430 00:21:03,919 --> 00:21:07,760 including many children amongst them 431 00:21:06,559 --> 00:21:12,080 nurses 432 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:15,120 journalists camera men and women 433 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:18,799 killed and it's vital that we 434 00:21:15,120 --> 00:21:19,360 never forget these things but equally 435 00:21:18,799 --> 00:21:22,720 important 436 00:21:19,360 --> 00:21:25,760 in the bits that i saw the unending 437 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:28,799 daily attrition 438 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:32,000 of palestinian lives 439 00:21:28,799 --> 00:21:32,559 in gaza and in the occupied west bank 440 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:35,520 and in 441 00:21:32,559 --> 00:21:37,520 occupied jerusalem which can never make 442 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:40,880 the media because 443 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:41,600 there's just too much of it quite apart 444 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:46,400 from 445 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:50,559 any other reason for how long 446 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:54,960 for how how how many years 447 00:21:50,559 --> 00:21:59,120 must some people exist in these 448 00:21:54,960 --> 00:22:03,280 circumstances before 449 00:21:59,120 --> 00:22:07,120 we can win majorities governments 450 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:11,280 in western countries to do something 451 00:22:07,120 --> 00:22:14,880 about it so it's our responsibility 452 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:19,919 to rise to the challenge 453 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:22,960 to face all that we have to face 454 00:22:19,919 --> 00:22:26,240 when we become activists in this 455 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:31,600 cause it's our duty to 456 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:31,600 do so and you know 457 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:38,559 in the middle east they say 458 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:42,960 it takes only a few drops of rain 459 00:22:38,559 --> 00:22:45,760 to transform the landscape 460 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:45,760 one twinning 461 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:55,760 in 1980 what's that 462 00:22:50,799 --> 00:22:58,159 almost 40 years ago i twinned 463 00:22:55,760 --> 00:23:00,799 my city of dundee with the palestinian 464 00:22:58,159 --> 00:23:03,760 city of nablus and we became the first 465 00:23:00,799 --> 00:23:05,679 public building in the western world to 466 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:09,840 fly the palestinian flag 467 00:23:05,679 --> 00:23:09,840 from our town hall 468 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:16,400 in the last nearly 40 years every person 469 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:19,679 i've met 470 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:22,640 from nablus when i say i'm from dundee 471 00:23:19,679 --> 00:23:26,880 they say that's our twin city 472 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:30,000 our flag flies on your city hall 473 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:33,039 so if you can get your college 474 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:36,480 university school church 475 00:23:33,039 --> 00:23:37,600 civil organization twin with a 476 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,840 palestinian 477 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:41,360 organization it won't mean that much to 478 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:44,880 you but it will mean 479 00:23:41,360 --> 00:23:47,760 everything to them because it sends the 480 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:51,120 message that they are not isolated 481 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:54,240 they are not forgotten and that people 482 00:23:51,120 --> 00:23:58,640 in the rest of the world care 483 00:23:54,240 --> 00:24:02,840 about them one twinning 484 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:04,480 one act of solidarity one stand of 485 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:07,600 defiance 486 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:09,520 after all what you're being asked to do 487 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:11,440 you know you're only being asked not to 488 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:14,559 buy 489 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:18,080 the products of an apartheid state 490 00:24:14,559 --> 00:24:20,559 how difficult is that 491 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:22,000 during the struggle against apartheid in 492 00:24:20,559 --> 00:24:25,120 south africa 493 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:27,120 no decent self-respecting person 494 00:24:25,120 --> 00:24:28,240 would have been found buying the 495 00:24:27,120 --> 00:24:31,520 products of 496 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:32,000 apartheid south africa neither would 497 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:35,679 they have 498 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:38,320 twinned up with a apartheid university 499 00:24:35,679 --> 00:24:40,559 or gone for an apartheid holiday 500 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:42,640 in sun city that's all we're saying 501 00:24:40,559 --> 00:24:47,679 let's replicate that 502 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:52,240 on this palestinian front let's 503 00:24:47,679 --> 00:24:55,840 tell it like it is that in the words 504 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,840 of mandela's grandson 505 00:24:55,919 --> 00:25:02,640 apartheid in palestine is worse 506 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:06,559 than apartheid in south africa 507 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:09,360 was so let's rise to the challenge 508 00:25:06,559 --> 00:25:10,559 with this boycott divestment and 509 00:25:09,360 --> 00:25:15,200 sanctions 510 00:25:10,559 --> 00:25:16,960 response let's make it something 511 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:18,960 that they'll now have to do the next 512 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:22,080 time they're going on a freebie 513 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:24,320 to saudi arabia 514 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:25,200 they'll have to hide it it'll be a 515 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:28,240 guilty 516 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:28,960 secret like boris johnson how ashamed he 517 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:32,720 is now 518 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:35,679 that he took a 14 000 pound three-day 519 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:37,200 trip to saudi arabia just a few days 520 00:25:35,679 --> 00:25:38,960 before khashoggi 521 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:40,640 was murdered and dismembered and 522 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:43,600 dissolved in saudi arabia 523 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:45,520 no mp will be boasting in the future 524 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:47,840 that they've gone on a freebie to 525 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:48,799 saudi arabia let's make the same thing 526 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:52,320 happen 527 00:25:48,799 --> 00:25:56,159 for israel so that no labour mp 528 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:58,000 is posing taking selfies yards away from 529 00:25:56,159 --> 00:26:02,159 where palestinian blood 530 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:02,159 is flowing in the streets 531 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:08,559 let's back the possibility 532 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:11,600 and the real one is it's not an 533 00:26:08,559 --> 00:26:15,960 inevitability at all 534 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:18,559 but the possibility of an anti-war 535 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:20,000 anti-imperialist government in britain 536 00:26:18,559 --> 00:26:22,720 imagine 537 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:25,080 the oldest of us here never imagined 538 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:27,679 that we could have an anti-war 539 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:29,120 anti-imperialist government in britain 540 00:26:27,679 --> 00:26:32,320 but we can 541 00:26:29,120 --> 00:26:35,039 and we must do everything that we 542 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:37,200 are able to do to bring it about my 543 00:26:35,039 --> 00:26:38,640 apologies if i've gone on too long 544 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:52,480 thank you very much indeed for the 545 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:56,400 opportunity of speaking 546 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:58,480 [Applause] 547 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:58,480 you