Category: Uncategorized

https://uk.video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-rotz-001&ei=UTF-8&hsimp=yhs-001&hspart=rotz&param1=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%3D&p=ICC+must+investigate+Israel%27s+action+for+war+crimes+Times+live+video&type=mdruc23e2fad8884c7e04e98#id=1&vid=599fbe502034197e09cca1c58879e7ef&action=click South Africa has submitted all necessary paperwork to the International Criminal Court (ICC), bringing war crime charges against Israel over its genocidal war in Gaza, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday, according to local outlet Eyewitness News. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, 19,667 Palestinians have been killed and 52,586 wounded in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza starting on October 7. Palestinian and international estimates say that the majority of those killed and wounded are women and children. ‘Genocide’ Last month, President Ramaphosa condemned the Hamas incursion into Israel on October 7 during an emergency virtual BRICS+ meeting, accusing the Palestinian Resistance Movement of violating international law. He asserted, however, that Israel is committing genocide and blamed the raging conflict on the Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian territory. Ramaphosa had previously called for the ICC to investigate Israel for its actions in the war against Gaza and had filed a request for this probe with a number of other countries. The Israeli war on Gaza has further strained diplomatic relations between the African nation and Israel. Pretoria has long supported the Palestinian struggle for sovereignty, comparing it to South Africa’s own battle against apartheid in the 20th century. Suspended Ties Late last month, the country’s lawmakers endorsed a motion to suspend ties with Israel until Netanyahu commits to a ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian territory.  Israel recalled its ambassador from Pretoria, citing comments made by South African officials against Tel Aviv as the reason. Pretoria had earlier withdrawn its envoy and diplomatic staff from the country, as had Bolivia, Belize, Bahrain, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Jordan, and Türkiye. On Monday, Ramaphosa reportedly requested that the ICC begin the probe into war crimes against Israel as soon as possible. “Once a case has been referred to them, they need to take it up seriously. So South Africa, as well as a number of other countries, are presenting their full documentation to the ICC,” Eyewitness News quoted the South African president as saying. BRICS Apart from South Africa, Iran, which will officially join the BRICS next month, has urged the bloc to designate the Israeli government and military as terrorist organizations over atrocities against Palestinians. Earlier this month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu would face war crimes charges at the ICC “as the butcher of Gaza.” Meanwhile, Pretoria has also warned South Africans against joining the Israeli army in the Gaza conflict, citing the risk of violating domestic and international law. “Any person joining the IDF without the necessary permission of the NCACC (National Conventional Arms Control Committee) is breaking the law and can be prosecuted,” the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation said in a statement on Monday. (from The Palestine Chronicle, 19 December 2023)

It is no longer enough to march and hold meetings to protest against the slaughter of the Palestinian people; we need action.  The Socialist Labour Party calls for a boycott of any shop selling goods that come from Israel – an action that was used so effectively against the evil of South African apartheid. We must remember that Palestine including Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem is occupied by Israel.  On 7 October 2023, Hamas troops broke out of the world’s largest open-air prison and entered land which was taken from Palestine in 1948. It is a matter of regret and sorrow that on 7 October 1400 people died following the Hamas attack – just as the deaths of thousands of Palestinians due to the long decades of Israeli occupation is a matter of regret and sorrow. Israeli social media sources confirm that Israel Defence Force fire accounted for some of these fatalities. Since 7 October, the Socialist Labour Party like so many other organisations throughout the world has been horrified by the carnage perpetrated by the Israeli Defence Force in Gaza and on the West Bank:  nearly 20,000 killed, and this includes three Israeli hostages who were carrying a white flag of surrender and calling out in Hebrew. Israel’s relentless slaughter by bombing and ground troops has shocked nations around the world.  The United Nations Security Council would have voted recently for a ceasefire but for the veto of the United States.  The UN General Assembly, however, DID vote for a ceasefire – by 153 votes, with 23 abstentions and 10 votes against (among them Israel, the United States and the United Kingdom). Of the UN’s 186 member nations, 82.25%  voted for an immediate cease-fire, whilst only 5.4% voted against.  The General Assembly’s morally binding decision should affect the Security Council.  In other words, Ceasefire Now! We not only need a cease fire now, but steps must be taken to bring the leaders of Israel’s fascist government to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to face charges  of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression, in accordance with the Rome Statute. Arthur Scargill Socialist Labour Party 18 December 2023

TRIBUTE TO SOUTH DERBYSHIRE MINERS We gather here today to pay tribute to South Derbyshire miners.   We honour those who over the generations  fought to build and sustain  their trade union. In just a few months, we will see the 40th Anniversary of the miners’ strike of 1984/85, a historic struggle which drew support from all around the world, in which the Thatcher Government tried to destroy the National Union of Mineworkers.  In the aftermath of the strike, South Derbyshire was a key battleground. It would be remiss of me, not only as former NUM President but as President of the International Energy and Mineworkers’ Organisation, the IEMO, not to mention how the NUM in South Derbyshire was sustained in that traumatic time. Following the creation of the breakaway UDM in 1985, the NUM faced two challenges in this Area.  First, to compel the National Coal Board to deduct NUM contributions from NUM members to pay to the NUM.  Kevin Richards and other NUM Officials including the Chairman today, Paul Liversuch, who became Area President, did a magnificent job in sustaining the NUM membership. Sources such as Wikipedia state that the NUM South Derbyshire miners (NOT the NUM Area) voted by a split ballot decision to merge with the Leicester breakaway UDM — NOT TRUE.   Over half the South Derbyshire miners who had been members of the South Derbyshire Area continued as an Area of the NUM, electing Kevin Richards as Area Secretary. During this turbulent period, the Area Union had no office – and therefore the IEMO, or the IMO as it was then, purchased 62 Alexandra Road, Swadlincote, for the benefit of the NUM South Derbyshire.   I was proud that the IMO was able to give that support to the NUM membership in this Area. SUPPORT PALESTINE As we meet today to honour mineworkers who went before us, others around the UK and the world are gathering in support of the Palestinian people. I can tell you as President of the IEMO that alongside my political party, the Socialist Labour Party, we have condemned the fascist state of Israel which illegally occupies land which belongs to the various peoples of Palestine. References made by the media to the invasion by Hamas into Israel on 7 October are misleading – in that Gaza, and the West Bank, and East Jerusalem are unlawfully occupied by Israel, and people in an occupied state will campaign and fight for their freedom. The Polish Jews, for example, trapped in the Warsaw Ghetto, broke out and fought against the occupation by the German Nazi Army. The slaughter which Israel is now committing in Gaza, and on the West Bank, has been condemned by the United Nations Security Council with the exception of one vote – the United States. Earlier this week, the UN General Assembly voted by 153 votes for a ceasefire, with 23 abstentions and only 10 votes against:  among those 10 were Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States. It seems the United States has forgotten that when they were occupied by the British they rose up and fought for independence – and were right to do so. The IEMO and Socialist Labour Party have called for a ceasefire in Gaza – which must lead sooner rather than later to the end of Israel’s occupation and the liberation of Palestine. Israel’s leaders should be tried for war crimes and genocide by the International Criminal Court.   Just as the struggle of the miners became an international cause in 1984/85, the struggle of the Palestinians is our struggle too. Arthur Scargill 16 December 2023

The vote of the Security Council supported by 13 of 15 of the permanent members, co-sponsored by 100 countries was vetoed by the USA with the UK abstaining. This vote was  crucial to stop the Genocide which is being inflicted on the Palestinian people in Gaza. It would’ve provided for a Ceasefire;  a permanent one, humanitarian aid, an end to the displacement of 1.9 million Palestinian people and demand the establishment of a Palestinian State.The State of Israel is being granted permission by it’s ally; the USA, to carryon committing Genocide. Today, 75 years after a resolution was  brought forward from the  General Assembly on the Prevention And Punishment Of The Crime Of Genocide, the UN has shown it is powerless to stop Genocide. Kathrine Jones, Socialist Labour Party, Wales. 9/12/2023

From Chris Butler, Yorkshire Region, Socialist Labour Party 1/12/2023

2024 will include the 40th anniversary of the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike in which great sacrfices were made to improve the lives of working people. Each year a wreath is laid at the Miners’ Memorial Statue at Swadlincote near Burton in Derbyshire. You are welcome to attend along with National Union of Mineworkers’ leader at the time, Athur Scargill.

In view of the failure of the U.K. Parliament to call for a Cease Fire at a critical point of genocide in Gaza, with the Labour Party opposition being directed not to support it there is an urgent need for Trade Unions, Trade Councils within the Labour Movement to lead in taking action for peace and justice in Palestine. According to the Morning Star a significant number of members of the Shadow Cabinet in Westminster have received payment from Israeli support groups. How far this has reached across all parties in the U.K. Parliament is hard to say, including affecting the vote on an immediate Cease Fire held this week. Such corrupt practices must be dealt with. Clearly the longer a cease fire takes to be put in place the longer people will die and suffer. At the moment hospitals in Gaza can no longer help save life or tended to the thousands of wounded. This is totally against International Law and those who support it must be held to account. Chris Butler, Socialist Labour Party Yorkshire Area 17/11/2023 Boycott, Divest, Sanctions site https://bdsmovement.net/get-involved/what-to-boycott

It’s more than likely that the vote for a Cease Fire in Gaza would have been higher in the U.K. parliament – and the result for Leader Sir Keir Starmer significantly worse – had not 2/5ths of his Shadow Cabinet had not received funding from sources in supportof Israel. The Morning Star reports donations were received by Starmer, Deputy Rayner, Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Shadow International Secretary, Lias Nandy. Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves was given £17,000 for a visi to Israel. More than half of the Shadow Cabinet are Labour Friends of Israel. https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/two-fifths-starmers-cabinet-have-been-funded-pro-israel-lobbyists-declassified-uk What goes on in Westminster is very poorly served by the so-called news services available to us which serve propaganda in place of accurate information i.e. what we all need to know. Votes on a cease fire are a matter of life and death to countless people without basic needs for existence. It is a matter that needs to be referred to the International Criminal Court when what is being supported are war crimes and crimes against humanity. John Tyrrell, Socialist Labour Party 17/11/2023

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, (Bibi) has been left holding the babies thrown out of their incubators at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza. Amazingly they are not dead or buried under tons of rubble, and Israel is talking about sending ambulances to take them away. Where they don’t say because there is no where to go and shortages of supplies in power, water and all essentials for life. Maybe Bibi has a safer place to hide before being summoned to the International Criminal Court to answer accusations of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. There’s quite a queue, including those world leaders who not only supported him in unleashing an unprecedented genocide of civilians, largely children and women, but who donated amazing sums of money from taxpayers, none of whom consented to this. Hopefully they will soon be out of office and lining up in the Hague. John Tyrrell, Socialist Labour Party 13/11/2003

RTE reports on an Irish parliamentary debate advocating that Ireland should refer Israel to the International Criminal Court for its action in bringing about Genocide on a massive scale against a civilian population, including an extremely high proportion of women and children. This was raised by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald. http://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2023/1111/1415924-sf-ardfheis/ The most recent assaults have included children’s hospitals. Already starved of the essentials to allow work to continue: power for incubators, supplies of medicine, access to heat, light and water and so on. Israel claims that people were warned to evacuate the North of Gaza, but then reports emerged of unprotected people walking along the road south, supposedly a safe thoroughfare. Similarly bombing has continued in the south of Gaza, including at the Rafah crossing which Egypt has tried to keep open for essential supplies. Arthur Scargill, John Tyrrell, Socialist Labour Party 12/11/2023