Scottish Government must end funding for companies arming Israel
The SNP Government must end all funding and support for companies that are arming and supporting Israeli forces, says Scottish Green Co-leader, Patrick Harvie MSP.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Mr Harvie called for all governments to support de-escalation in the face of a full scale regional war, and an end to UK complicity in the suffering.
Despite opposition to the genocide in Gaza, the Scottish Government has continued to pour public money into companies that are arming Israel and profiting from the destruction.
In his question to the First Minister, Mr Harvie said: “The world’s failure to address Israel's impunity, to protect civilians or to prevent war crimes has made escalation of violence in the Middle East inevitable. Through devolved funding decisions the Scottish Government does have a role here.
“There have been far too many deaths. The brutal killings on October 7th, genocide inflicted on the people of Gaza and the bombardment and invasion of Lebanon, and now the world faces the imminent threat of full scale regional war.
“We need an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and de-escalation in the wider region, but the Prime Minister continues to provide arms and political support to Israel regardless of the consequences.
“Remembering that there are devolved funding decisions involved here, what is the First Minister's response to the crisis, and will he join us in calling for de-escalation and for the UK government to end its complicity in war crimes being inflicted on Palestinians and others?”
Mr Harvie welcomed the First Minister’s response, which called for a ceasefire, and urged the Scottish Government to take clear action by immediately ending all funding for companies arming Israel and profiting from the destruction.
He followed : “There is a responsibility on all governments to act in the face of so much violence and destruction, and I welcome the fact that the First Minister has repeated his call for a ceasefire, for de-escalation and for statehood for Palestine. I hope he continues to oppose the sale of arms to Israel.
“The Greens have repeatedly raised the shocking track record of the Scottish Government in giving grants to the companies that are producing those weapons and are profiting from the killings.
“Tens of thousands of people have been killed and yet companies that are arming Israel have received hundreds of thousands of pounds from Scottish Enterprise.
“The First Minister repeatedly defends this by saying his Government doesn’t fund the manufacture of munitions, but this is not the point - the Government is funding the companies that profit from these atrocities.
“Will the First Minister finally send a clear signal today by immediately banning these companies from receiving grants and support from the Scottish Government?”