The Scottish National Party has made headlines by expelling Member of Scottish Parliament John Mason for his refusal to label Israeli actions in Gaza as genocide. Mason, who believes the party should tolerate differing opinions as long as they support Scottish independence, expressed his disappointment and plans to appeal the decision within 21 days.
His suspension in August stemmed from comments he made about Israel’s actions, arguing that they did not constitute genocide. This sparked controversy within the party, with high-ranking members like Ian Blackford denouncing Mason’s remarks as unfit for public office.
The SNP and Israel
The SNP has demonstrated its stance against Israel, exemplified by Humza Yousaf’s support for Palestinian refugees during the conflict. Yousaf’s decision to donate taxpayer money to the UN Refugee Agency raised eyebrows and led to a government investigation.
Despite the internal turmoil, the party remains firm in its position against Israel, as illustrated by a meeting between SNP External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson and Deputy Israeli Ambassador Daniela Grudsky.