As the Labour Party descends further into student union gesture politics, it is perhaps appropriate that the last backbench rebellion before the election is set to be over Israel and the Palestinians. As James has pointed out on Coffee House, disgruntled Labour MPs are preparing for battle over the issue of universal jurisdiction, which blew up when an arrest warrant was issued for former Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni.
Not to be outdone, the Jewish Chronicle will be splashing on the story tomorrow and has already put the story up on its website. I had it on very good authority that the government will announce the law change next week.
The government will almost certainly need Tory support to push this through. More than 60 Labour MPs have already signed an Early Day Motion opposing the change.
It will be interesting to see how Justice Secretary Jack Straw will justify this to his old friends at the Muslim Council of Britain, or indeed his constituents.
Meanwhile, I'm hearing rumours that John Denham is preparing to officially bring in the Muslim Council of Britain from the cold. Could this be the condition Straw and Denham wrung out of the Cabinet for their support on the law change?
Filed under: Backbenchers (106 more articles) , Israel (104 more articles) , Jack Straw (33 more articles) , John Denham (15 more articles) , Labour in Crisis (77 more articles)
Blogs: Susan Hill | Alex Massie | Melanie Phillips | Coffee House | Faith Based
Actions: Print this article | Email to a friend | Permalink | Comments (18)
Post this entry to: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
Advertisement
1 Yes campaign launch will cause problems — for the independence movement - Ysenda Maxtone Graham
2 Obama vs Balls - edited by Graham Storey, Margaret Brown and Kathle
3 Cameron's attack on Balls is strangely endearing - Lloyd Evans
4 Susie Squire to take over as Tory press chief - James Forsyth
5 What Farage's offer means for David Cameron - James Forsyth
Pinko Bloggers
Hopi Sen
Liberal England
NormBlog
Olly's Onions
Sadie's Tavern
Shiraz Socialist
Slugger O'Toole
Never Trust a Hippy
Liberal-leftie blogs
Common Endeavour
Harry's Place
Labour Home
Labour List
Liberal Conspiracy
Our Kingdom
TPM Cafe
Workers' Liberty
Lib Dem Voice
Bloggers4Labour
Hacks
David Aaronovitch
Nick Cohen
Maguire and Friends
Politicians
Harry Barnes
Lynne Featherstone
Tom Harris
John Prescott
Tom Watson
The creative route could help to avoid a lost generation, The Telegraph
Insanity has always been integral to New Labour, The Spectator
There is now a clear and present danger that Labour will become the third party, The Spectator
Jobs at music festivals can help save a lost generation, The Independent (with Feargal Sharkey)
A New Deal that must win arts and minds, The Times
Tessa Jowell: A loyalist to the bitter end, The Observer
What makes the left vilify Israel?, Jewish Chronicle
Brown / Nixon - the leaders who are never at ease, Daily Mail
The Nature of Secrecy, The Free Speech Blog
Don't they understand decent conduct?, Evening Standard
Now Ken is the big beast Labour should fear most, Evening Standard
The Horror Comes Home, New Statesman
A New Deal of the Mind, New Statesman
1,700 Unusual Christmas Presents Request Catalogue 01935 815 195 Quote SPEC10 for 10% discount www.presentfinder.co.uk
Pimilco based Florist with online ordering Web: www.olivebranch.net Tel: 020 7630 1868 Fax: 020 7233 8844
62 Shore Road, Warsash, Southampton, SO31 9FT Telephone: 01489 578867 Web site: www.ruffs.co.uk
Apollo Magazine | Corporate | Advertising | Privacy | Terms
Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP
All Articles and Content Copyright ©2012 by The Spectator | All Rights Reserved
Patricia Shaw
January 14th, 2010 1:21pm Report this commentIn the meantime, this is a sideshow to the main issue - the prosecution of Israel for war crimes in Gaza. Even Ross Kemp on (Sky One !) had to voice his shock at seeing the deliberate destruction of Gaza's shools, administration and facilities.
Olaf Rye
January 14th, 2010 2:40pm Report this commentI must take issue with the statement that Israel is culpable of war crimes because of the destruction of schools, administration facilities and so forth. Such locations were selected as targets because they were being used by Hamas in a cynical attempt to protect themselves, or if their positions were destroyed, they would at least have collateral propaganda material. The CCC of Hamas was apparently situated in a bunker beneath an hospital. If these people had the slightest regard for the civilian population, they would either not fire rockets into Israel and provoke a conflict, or if they must do this sort of thing, they might have the decency to evacuate as many civilians as possible. If they cannot get them out of Gaza, they could at least have abandoned districts whence they were prosecuting the defence. Good God, even the German army in WW2 tried to do this when they were not interfered with by the Nazis.
MazalUK
January 14th, 2010 3:39pm Report this commentHmmmm.............any word yet about warrants to arrest Hamas and Hezbolla terrorist leaders for war crimes should they dare to place their feet in the UK? I will be applying for one should that day ever dawn!
Linda Smith
January 14th, 2010 3:48pm Report this commentThis is the bunch of genocidal anti-Semitic Islamists whose jihad ‘Patricia Shaw’ relentlessly defends on these threads:
“Ziad Abu Alhaj, Hamas cleric, in Friday sermon: No Jew or Zionist will be left on earth
Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas) - Apr. 3, 2009
"Who is it that is leading the world today in the vicious, all-encompassing war against Islam and Muslims? The answer is clear: it is the Jewish nation. It is the Jews who today are leading the all-encompassing war against Muslims... We, the Muslims, know the nature of Jews the best, because the Holy Quran taught us. The prophetic traditions explained at length to Muslims the true nature of Jews... Their war and their hatred for Muhammad and Islam is in their souls, they are naturally disposed to it. Israel today lives in the heart of Arab-Muslim territory, and it is a cancer that wants to rule the world. Know, my brothers! The Jews' expansion today brings the dissemination of an ancient thinking... They argued with Allah's prophet Moses; they wanted to kill Allah's prophet Jesus, and wanted to murder Allah's prophet Muhammad... The Jews want to destroy every inch ... Perhaps their famous book, which they deny [its authenticity] - known as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, but we call it, "The Protocols of the imbeciles of Zion" - in this book, my brothers, the Jews set down their plan to besiege the entire world by land, by air, and by sea - conceptually, economically, and its communications, as is happening today... The Jews' grandeur today, and their ascent to the world's throne, is because America, with all of its power, is ruled by the Senate, I won't say 'American' but rather 'Jewish' [Senate]... The time will come, by the will of Allah, when their property will be destroyed and their children will be exterminated, and no Jew or Zionist will be left on the face of this earth."
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=427&doc_id=841
Derek
January 14th, 2010 4:09pm Report this commentLet's take the battle to the enemy instead of our friends. While the law remains in place, every opportunity should be taken to arrest Arab and other muslim government representatives and their supporters for war crimes and attempted genocide against Israel and the Jews. The "unholy alliance" as it has been justly called between islamofascists and the left is being increasingly recognized by the people at large in the United Kingdom along with the threat which those two reactionary camps pose to British society and culture. There would be wide-spread sympathy for such arrests and trials as the defendants found themselves tarred with their own brush. Let's have a look at which 60 signatures to see which of the reviled Labour MPs are on the list opposing the change in the law and how quickly they change their tune once the law is applied against the real war criminals.
David Lindsay
January 14th, 2010 5:50pm Report this commentI don't believe in any universal jurisdiction except the universal ordinary and immediate Episcopal jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiff. But if we must have it in criminal matters, then we should really have it, as part and parcel of our regular legal system.
No room, then, for this, which may in part be motivated by bowing the knee to Israel, but is mostly about protecting someone who is indeed a British Citizen and who committed his crimes not only from an office in London, but for and on behalf of this country as such. I think we all know who.
If the Tories vote for this, then that will expose not only the treasonably corrupt fact that eighty per cent of their MPs are paid by Conservative Friends of Israel (or, to use its shorter name, Mossad), but also their fraudulent receipt of public money in order to provide an Opposition, as well as their slavering hunger for the trappings of office rather than for the rule of law. All three will stand exposed. Again.
Anne Wotana Kaye 1
January 14th, 2010 9:04pm Report this commentGoodness, Britain can hardly function in its own territory when it comes to matters of jurisdiction. Are there plans afoot to try criminals from Yemen (Taliban supporters), Pakistan (where fellow muslims from different sects are blown up), Saudi Arabia (for stoning women to death), Somalia (ask the refugees living here what the crimes consist of), Syria (a lot, but kept very quiet), Iran (offences against basic human rights) so many more....too complicated to get involved.....let's just play it cool and stick it on Israel.
De Rigueur
January 14th, 2010 9:32pm Report this comment"As the Labour Party descends further into student union gesture politics,..."
My dear fellow that is precisely where the Labour Party, even New Labour, have been for the last thirty years.
Perish the thought that they might even try to help the poor and the common working man.
Linda Smith
January 14th, 2010 10:18pm Report this comment“If the Tories vote for this, then that will expose not only the treasonably corrupt fact that eighty per cent of their MPs are paid by Conservative Friends of Israel (or, to use its shorter name, Mossad)...”
What’s the source of your information David Linday? How many MPs are paid by Arab and quasi-Arab organizations?
Paul
January 15th, 2010 1:36pm Report this commentDavid Lindsay said: "If the Tories vote for this, then that will expose not only the treasonably corrupt fact that eighty per cent of their MPs are paid by Conservative Friends of Israel (or, to use its shorter name, Mossad)".
What a prat.
Occasional Ostrich
January 16th, 2010 5:53pm Report this commentDavid Lindsay
January 14th, 2010 5:50pm
Well, if you wish to accept the universal jusisdiction you described, that's up to you.
But do keep it to yourself please, otherwise some of the rest of us might feel that we're being harangued.
Ricky
January 17th, 2010 9:08am Report this commentI for one would like to see a published list of Labour MPs opposing this law change. Tactical voting is a powerful weapon of choice today. The British public needs to know which Members of Parliament are soft on terrorism and oppose a democratic ally fighting at the front line of Islamic terror, racism and supremacism.
Patricia Shaw
January 18th, 2010 11:52am Report this commentRicky - What we need is a list of MPs bought wholesale by the Jewish lobby, be it Con or Lab. Funny that the Lab FoI are all being made redundant, incidentally. I guess the decision's already been made then.
Linda - Keep taking the Tablets.
Patricia Shaw
January 18th, 2010 9:25pm Report this commentAnna Wotaname Kaye (I)
We don't need to 'stick it' to Israel. The ultra orthodox race hating bigots holding the country to ransom do their job so darn well that they just don't need our help.
hadrian
January 18th, 2010 11:00pm Report this commentThe Roman Pontiff, with his absurd claims to infallibility and universal rule, should keep his neb out of our national life.
Having read the extract from the rant about the 'wicked' Jews and the supposed insight into their incurability in the 'holy koran', it makes one wonder how these leftist idiots can be taken in by our islamist nutters and their innate racism.
Bunnykins
January 20th, 2010 4:49pm Report this commentPatricia Shaw, or Batty Patty as she is better known, has come out Jew-hating guns ablazing...again. Jeez, doesn't she get tired of wiping the foam from her crazed mouth?
Patricia Shaw
January 21st, 2010 10:50am Report this commentBunny you Flirt, I bet you say that to all those who criticise Israel!
Is the UN 'Unmpty Numpty' in your world? Amnesty 'NastyAmmy', er, the FT 'Frumpty Wumpty' - etc?
I know it's none of your business, but over here in the UK we don't want our law changed - politics and justice intermingled - just so that Zippy Whippy and her little chuckle chums can do the New Year's Sales without fear of being banged up for murder.
BeeBee
October 31st, 2010 10:18pm Report this commentAt the end of the day, who is it, that has 200 NUCLEAR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION?
Back to top