Bethlehem/PNN / by Roddy KeenanIn a landmark vote on Wednesday, Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) voted to boycott the state of Israel and companies complicit in the Zionist genocide.A motion calling on 'the Scottish and UK governments to immediately impose a package of boycotts, divestment and sanctions targeted at the state of Israel and at companies complicit in its military operations and its occupation of Palestine' was passed by 62 votes to 31 with 21 abstentions.During the debate, members of the Scottish government, including First Minister John Swinney, and other members of the parliament, openly referred to Israel's actions as a genocide.Prior to the vote, the First Minister had made a speech calling on the UK government to recognise the State of Palestine with immediate effect. Swinney also outlined a series of actions the Scottish government would take against the Israeli Occupation regime.Pointing to the refusal of Israel to abide by international humanitarian law and the regime’s determination to continue with its murderous assault on Gaza, Swinney said it was time to act.‘I am therefore calling for the immediate recognition of the Palestinian State, strengthened sanctions against those complicit in illegal settlements, and the imposition of sanctions on the members of the Israeli security cabinet where they are complicit in the horrors facing civilians in Gaza City,’ the First Minister declared. Under the UK political system, the devolved Scottish government based at Holyrood in Edinburgh does not have powers over foreign policy, defence and international trade agreements, as these are reserved powers of the UK parliament in London. Consequently, Swinney’s speech outlined those policies that his government had the authority to enact whilst simultaneously urging the UK government to take urgent measures in order to comply with international law in the face of Israeli genocide.Of those policies for which the Scottish government has authority, the First Minister announced that public money would be denied ‘to arms companies whose products or services are provided to countries where there is plausible evidence of genocide being committed by that country. That will include Israel.’Swinney also announced a series of measures to address the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.£600,000 will be donated to the UNOCHA led Humanitarian Fund for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, whilst a £400,000 grant will be provided to Kids Operating Room, an organisation providing surgery for children around the world, enabling it to set up a ‘Gaza HOPES Field Readiness Hub’ in Scotland.Medical treatment in Scotland will also be provided for 20 children injured in Gaza, and these children are expected to arrive with their families later this month.In addition to this, the Holyrood government allocated $15m of additional funding to deliver a rapidly deployable hospital in Gaza itself. ‘Designed in Scotland to be built in just a week, it can operate in the most challenging environments, and last for decades. It will provide essential surgical, maternity and paediatric services to thousands of patients every year,’ announced the First Minister.In relation to the UK parliament, the Scottish First Minister called on the London government to act swiftly in the face of the Israeli Occupation regime’s slaughter in Gaza, pointing to the UK’s legal obligations to do so under international law.‘The International Court of Justice has made plain that risk [of genocide] exists. Indeed, it has said there is a prima facie case of genocide in Gaza,’ the First Minister told the Scottish parliament.Referring to South Africa’s submission to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the genocidal statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Swinney pointed out that ‘international legal scholars have argued they help establish the specific intent required for a finding of genocide under the Convention.’‘Governments must act now’, asserted the First Minister, as he urged the UK government to join the South African government’s action.‘Acknowledging that we are witnessing the signs of genocide brings with it a responsibility to act. The people of Scotland expect no less of us.’He also called for an end to arms sales from the UK to Israel. The UK government had announced the suspension of arms export licences to Irael, but this only applied to 30 out of 350 licences. And none of those suspended applied to those British companies currently producing 15% of the components for the F-35 fighter jets which are used by the Israeli Occupying Forces in airstrikes across the occupied Palestinian territory.While the First Minister said he welcomed the UK Government’s decision to suspend some arms licences, he said that it needed to go further.‘All licenced arms exports should stop,’ Swinney demanded.Calling on the United Kingdom to withdraw from the UK-Israel Free Trade Agreement, the Scottish FM urged the UK Government to ‘follow the example of Ireland and prohibit the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.’ Finally, the First Minister Swinney called for the immediate recognition of the State of Palestine.While Swinney said he welcomed the UK Government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian State at the UN General Assembly this month, he asserted that ‘recognition must not be conditional and should be irreversible.’‘It is the right of Palestinians, not the gift of international powers and must be backed by sanctions against the Israeli government,’ declared the First Minister.Meanwhile, as a mark of solidarity with the people of Palestine, the Palestinian flag flew outside Scottish government offices.‘For the duration of this afternoon’s business, I have authorised that the Palestinian flag be raised outside St Andrew’s House as an indication of Scotland’s solidarity with the people of Palestine,’ declared the Scottish First Minister.‘Scotland will always raise her voice in favour of peace and humanity.’The latter has never been more evident than in the Scottish people’s ongoing support, solidarity, and compassion, for their Palestinian brothers and sisters.And it will continue, until every Palestinian man, woman and child is living in a free and peaceful Palestine.