AN INTERNATIONAL solidarity organisation has called for “the immediate cessation of all military co-operation and arms trade with Israel on the part of the British government.”

Liberation, at its AGM at the weekend, unanimously agreed an emergency motion denouncing the Israeli military’s ongoing incursions into Gaza and blockade of humanitarian aid.

In a keynote address at the meeting, Professor John Foster not only spoke of the history of Liberation — formed in 1954 as the Movement for Colonial Freedom — but on its important role today amid a “new cold war” as the West ramps up both rhetoric and pressure on China and the global South.

The need for greater understanding of the need for international solidarity now was also picked up by Liberation’s new parliamentary chair, Labour MP Brian Leishman, who told the meeting the need to build positive relationships with the trade union movement, as well as among his fellow parliamentarians. 

Those links, he argued, would be vital in the time ahead, and would open up the opportunities to use parliamentary committees and questions to ministers to challenge Britain’s positions on international issues, not least those in Palestine.

Welcoming the speakers’ contributions on behalf of the Liberation executive, AGM chair Liz Payne said: “We have had some excellent input from our keynote speakers, which has underlined the significance of the work of Liberation to date and emphasised why we need to build our strength as we go forward.

“I am confident that our influence and contribution to meeting the challenges of campaigning and international solidarity work, will continue to grow in the coming year.”