Calls for Green MSP to be suspended for liking antisemitic social media post
The Jewish Council of Scotland says Ariane Burgess MSP must give an ‘unequivocal apology’.
A Green MSP is facing calls to resign after liking a picture on social media of an Israeli flag covered in blood with a swastika on it.
The Jewish Council of Scotland says Ariane Burgess MSP, who represents the Highlands and Islands, must give an “unequivocal apology”, and opposition parties are calling for her immediate suspension.
The image had been posted on Instagram and Facebook by former SNP and Green MSP John Finnie. Mr Finnie has previously described Israeli soldiers as “Nazis in action” and “blood-thirsty Zionists” on social media. The image was then liked by Ms Burgess.
A spokesman for the Jewish Council of Scotland said: “Depicting the Israeli flag with a blood-covered swastika is grotesque and anti-Semitic. It exploits the murder of 6 million Jews to demonise the Jewish state.
“A serving MSP endorsing such imagery owes Scotland’s Jewish community an explanation and an unequivocal apology.
“Comparing Israeli soldiers to Nazis is repugnant, dehumanising language.
“Politicians have every right to criticise the Israel government and its military actions. That does not excuse Holocaust inversion or stripping people of their humanity.
“Coming alongside the Greens’ decision to treat Zionism as racism, this raises serious questions about whether Jewish concerns are being heard at all within the party.
“Scotland’s Jews should not have to keep explaining why the Holocaust must not be weaponised against them.
“The Scottish Greens’ leadership must publicly condemn the material, investigate its endorsement by Ariane Burgess, and make clear what action will follow.”
Last week the Green Party of England and Wales passed a motion at their party conference declaring Zionism as racism, and said there should be a single Palestinian state in the Middle East. The Scottish Greens responded by saying they agreed Zionism is racism, but do not take a view on the future of the region.
Rachael Hamilton MSP, deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said: “It is utterly sickening that a serving Greens MSP has endorsed this vile anti-Semitic post.
“It can never be excused, and Ariane Burgess’s explanation simply isn’t believable.
“Anti-Semitism and supporting images like this is growing among Green politicians across the UK.
“Scottish Green co-leaders Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay should grow a backbone and suspend Ariane Burgess from their party. They simply cannot remain silent on what she has done.”
Ms Burgess said: “I am sorry for liking this post on social media. It has only come to my attention today, and it appears this post was liked in error.
“It was not my intention to cause any harm, but I accept that the post liked by my account was clearly inappropriate and distasteful and any interaction with it could be upsetting or distressing.
“I never want anyone to feel alienated, hurt or disappointed by my interactions on social media or in person.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Greens added: "This image is totally inappropriate and Ariane has rightly apologised."
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