As part of CUFI’s “For Zion’s Sake” campaign, we have listed 12 principles that we believe the new UK Government should implement, including preventing support for Hamas, Hezbollah and other terror groups.
- The UK government has made important steps in the proscription of terror groups.
- Parliament should never be a place where terrorist or supporters of terrorism are allowed to visit.
- Law enforcement must be equipped with the tools required to tackle support for banned terror groups.
The UK government has made some clear advancements in recent years to tackle support for terrorist groups. Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Al Qaeda and Hezbollah, four of the main terrorist organisations that seek the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people, have now been banned in the UK. However, it is important to understand that even though they are outlawed there are still those who continue to support these groups within Britain.
We believe the police should be given suitable powers to prosecute those who display support for terrorist groups in the UK. Whether it be the flying of a flag during a street protest or the expressed support for a group online. Our law enforcement must be equipped with the tools required to tackle the spreading of their hatred.
We also believe Parliament should never be a place where terrorists or their supporters are given a voice.
Too often we see political activists with links to terrorists welcomed into Parliament where they can influence our elected politicians. Therefore, we are calling on the government to ensure proper vetting of political activists who are visiting Parliament. We also encourage our government to avoid inviting foreign dignitaries who may be linked with terrorist groups. Having different views and political leanings is one thing; supporting a group that calls for the destruction of others is not the same.
Sadly, there are numerous examples where members of Labour’s leadership team have not met this standard.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and members of his Shadow Cabinet, Diane Abbott and John McDonnell, all voted against the proscription of Hamas, PIJ and Al Qaeda along with other terrorist organisations in a vote in 2001. And when Hezbollah was outlawed earlier this year, the Labour leadership remained silent on the issue. When given an opportunity in the House of Commons to express support for the ban, the opposition front bench remained silent. This action spoke volumes at the time, especially as Corbyn has previously called Hamas and Hezbollah his “friends”.
We believe the next government should be clear in their opposition to those who seek the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people.
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