Brother of Scot Killed by Hamas Accuses SNP of Anti-Semitism

[Social Media]

 

Colin Cowan, the brother of a Jewish man murdered during the brutal October 7 attacks by Hamas, has leveled serious accusations of anti-Semitism against the Scottish National Party (SNP) following a recent decision by the Scottish government to suspend meetings with Israeli diplomats. Cowan, whose brother, Bernard Cowan, was killed by Hamas militants at his home in Kibbutz Sufa in southern Israel, expressed profound disappointment and outrage over the SNP's actions. He asserted that there was "no doubt" in his mind that the suspension was driven by anti-Semitic motives.

 

The Scottish government's announcement on Monday that ministers would halt all diplomatic talks with Israel unless certain demands were met has sparked significant controversy. Colin Cowan accused Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, of exploiting his grieving mother for a "photo opportunity" during a memorial service for the October 7 victims, where Yousaf was photographed embracing Mrs. Cowan. Cowan described this gesture as an "act of Jew-washing," pointing to what he perceives as a "blatant double standard" in the SNP's diplomatic conduct, particularly in comparison to the treatment of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

 

 

Erdoğan's government has faced international criticism for its harsh crackdown on the Kurdish community and severe restrictions on judicial independence, freedom of speech, and women's rights in Turkey. Thousands of individuals have been prosecuted and sentenced for the crime of insulting the president. Despite these human rights concerns, Yousaf previously invited Erdoğan to Scotland, a move that has intensified Cowan's belief that the SNP's recent actions against Israel are rooted in anti-Semitism.

 

Bernard Cowan was one of over 1,200 people killed in the surprise Hamas attack on October 7, which also saw around 250 hostages seized, according to Israeli officials. More than 100 hostages remain in captivity. In the aftermath of his brother's death, Colin Cowan has been vocal in his criticism of the SNP, particularly following the apology issued by Angus Robertson, Scotland's External Affairs Secretary, after he met with a senior Israeli diplomat earlier this month. Robertson was compelled to apologize after SNP MPs, MSPs, and party members expressed anger over the meeting, arguing that it undermined the party's condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza and its support for a separate Palestinian state. Some even called for Robertson's dismissal.

 

 

In his apology, Robertson acknowledged that his decision to meet with Daniela Grudsky, Israel's deputy ambassador, was mistakenly interpreted by many as a normalization of relations between Scotland and Israel. He clarified that no further meetings with Israeli officials would occur "until such time as real progress has been made towards peace, unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance is provided, and Israel cooperates fully with its international obligations on the investigation of genocide and war crimes." Despite this, SNP ministers will continue to engage with Palestinian officials. First Minister John Swinney defended the decision, stating that Israel's conduct left "no further dialogue" possible.

 

In an article published in The Herald, Colin Cowan criticized Yousaf's invitation to President Erdoğan during the COP28 summit in December, particularly given Erdoğan’s past statements labeling Israel as a "terror state" and Hamas as a "liberation group." Cowan also condemned the Scottish Government's decision to allocate £250,000 of taxpayers' money to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA), an organization he claimed had "directly supported the massacre on October 7 which killed my brother."

 

Cowan's grievances extend beyond these specific incidents, as he questions the SNP's broader stance towards Israel, asking, "What is so objectionable about the world’s only Jewish state that leads so many to criticize it above that of any other country? For me, as with many in Scotland’s Jewish communities, there is no doubt about the answer." He firmly believes that anti-Semitism is at the root of the SNP's actions and lamented that the issue was "the worst it's ever been" in Scotland during his lifetime. Cowan revealed that his nephew, Bernard's son, has even asked him if he would consider moving to Israel due to the growing "anti-Jew hatred" in Scotland. "That may seem absurd, that Scottish Jews would consider leaving Scotland for Israel amid safety fears, but I assure you that it’s a conversation taking place in Jewish communities across our country," he added.

 

The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) also weighed in on the issue, emphasizing that the Scottish Government "cannot in conscience deny the right of the victims to prevent the promised repetition of the atrocities of Oct 7." SCoJeC stressed that if the Scottish Government aspires to contribute to a resolution of the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict and supports a two-state solution, it must engage with both parties.

 

A Scottish Government spokesperson responded to Cowan’s criticisms by expressing the First Minister's deepest condolences for Cowan’s loss. The spokesperson added that Yousaf would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with Cowan and his family. The spokesperson reiterated the Scottish Government's condemnation of Hamas' attacks on October 7 and expressed support for an immediate ceasefire and a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace. Additionally, they confirmed that Swinney had held talks with SCoJeC and assured that the Scottish Government takes issues of anti-Semitism "extremely seriously."

 

Humza Yousaf himself also responded to the controversy, stating, "My thoughts continue to be with families who are suffering due to the horrific terror attack by Hamas on October 7th, including the Cowan family, and families in Gaza who have been devastated by Israel’s horrendous actions, resulting in tens of thousands of innocent people being killed." Yousaf defended his participation in the October memorial service, where he embraced Cowan's mother, saying, "I am proud of my lifelong campaigning against hatred in all of its forms, and believe that Islamophobia and anti-Semitism are two sides of the same coin."

 

However, Yousaf stood by the Scottish Government's decision to suspend diplomatic relations with Israel, insisting that "there are not normal diplomatic relationships with the government of Israel until they comply with their international obligations and cease killing civilians with impunity." This stance has further fueled the debate over the SNP's approach to Israel and the underlying reasons for the recent diplomatic freeze. As tensions continue to rise, the accusations of anti-Semitism have added a complex and emotionally charged dimension to the already contentious issue of Scotland's foreign policy towards Israel.

 

Credit: The Times  2024-08-23

 

 

 

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[koolkarl]

You can  add Canada to the list of antisemitic countries.  Plus Freeland, his finance chief was caught on tape dancing to celebrate her

grandfather who was a senior editor of a major Nazi newspaper plus the entire parliament honored in the parliament a 97 year old Ukrainian Nazi, etc.  Even Zelenskyy attended.

[Donga]

The lack of historical understanding over the centuries and decades as well as ignoring Hamas barbarism, strategies is both breathtaking and dangerous. I’m not Jewish.