Sturgeon is slated by Jewish students
JEWISH students have told Nicola Sturgeon that two Green ministers are her ‘blind spot’ on tackling anti-Semitism.
The SNP leader was told of concerns about the Greens’ place in government despite being the only party at Holyrood which hasn’t signed up to an internationally recognised definition of anti-Semitism.
Miss Sturgeon was confronted during a video call with students arranged by the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities. Jonathan Manevitch, its student representative, asked: ‘What are your feelings on the question of the Scottish Green Party having not signed up to IHRA [International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance], as the SNP has done, definition of anti-Semitism?
‘Given two Green MSPs [Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater] sit in your government as ministers, there is a concern among Jewish people that there is perhaps a blind spot towards issues of antiSemitism relating to the Green Party.’
Miss Sturgeon said: ‘I don’t make decisions for the Green Party. My party has signed the IHRA
‘Blind spot on anti-Semitism relating to the Green Party’
definition, my government has signed up to the IHRA definition, I would encourage all parties and organisations and institutions to do so.
‘There is not an exemption for the Green ministers. All ministers in my government, without exception, are expected to comply with that.’
The policy position of the Scottish Greens condemns Israel’s claim to be the ‘Jewish State’, describes Zionism as a ‘racist ideology’ and calls for Hamas to no longer be designated as a terrorist organisation.
Jackson Carlaw, Conservative MSP for Eastwood, said: ‘Green ministers have been in government for almost six months and signing up to this definition of anti-Semitism is apparently a prerequisite for serving in the Scottish Government.
‘However, for all the words of encouragement from the First Minister, Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie remain silent.’
A spokesman for the Scottish Greens said: ‘The Scottish Government has adopted the IHRA and Lorna and Patrick are ministers in that government. The Scottish Greens abhor anti-Semitism and all forms of prejudice.’