SNP MPs have accused Angus Robertson of undermining their work after the Scottish Government minister met with Israel’s Deputy Ambassador to the UK.
In a furious letter, obtained by Holyrood magazine, Brendan O’Hara, the party’s foreign affairs spokesperson, said no discussions should be taking place "with a government who is responsible for causing such unfathomable pain and suffering.”
The letter - supported by all nine of the party's MPs, including Stephen Flynn - will add to the pressure on Mr Robertson over the meeting.
READ MORE:
- SNP MSPs criticise Angus Robertson over meeting with Israeli diplomat
- Letters: Robertson and Swinney have brought shame on Scotland
A number of SNP MSPs have already questioned why the Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs agreed to the talks with Daniela Grudsky Ekstein.
Earlier this week, John Swinney was forced to take to social media to defend his minister.
The First Minister said the Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs had agreed to meet Daniela Grudsky Ekstein so he could express the Scottish Government's "clear and unwavering position on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza."
Details of the summit emerged over the weekend when the diplomat publicly thanked Mr Robertson on social media for “welcoming us to wonderful Scotland.”
She added: “Discussed the unique commonalities between Israel and Scotland and also emphasized the urgent need to bring back our 115 hostages.
“Looking forward to cooperating in the fields of technology, culture and renewable energy.”
But in his letter, Mr O’Hara said the meeting would act to “lend legitimacy” to Benyamin Netanyahu’s government.
He added that Mr Robertson had “completely undermined the months of diligent hard work”, by SNP MPs.
“Almost alone in that parliament we have pushed and scrutinised the action of the UK government.
"We were the ones who first called for an immediate ceasefire. It was the SNP who first described Israel's actions as ‘ethnic cleansing’.
"It was the SNP who those millions of people across these islands, who believe passionately in human rights and International Law, looked to, to be their voice.
"It was the SNP who stood with the Palestinian people in their time of greatest need, when so many other either chose to, or were bullied into, remaining silent.
“I fear all of that has been undone by the decision of the Scottish Government to meet with the deputy Israeli ambassador, and thereby normalise relations with a government whose actions could never be described as ‘normal’.”
MSPs Kevin Stewart, Emma Roddick, Elena Whitham and James Dornan have all publicly expressed concern over the matter. So too has minister Ivan McKee.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “As the First Minister made clear earlier this week, the Scottish Government accepted a meeting request from the Israeli UK Deputy Ambassador on the basis it would provide an opportunity to convey our consistent and unwavering position on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
“This position was made directly, and explicitly, by the Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs during the meeting.
“The Scottish Government remains committed to an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, an end to UK arms sales to Israel and will continue to press the UK Government to recognise a sovereign Palestinian state, as part of a two-state solution to secure lasting peace in the region.”
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