Talks with Israel’s deputy ambassador ‘necessary’, insists Swinney

Scotland’s First Minister has said a meeting between a senior figure in his Government and Israel’s deputy ambassador was “necessary”.

After criticism from the Scottish Greens that discussions between Scottish External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson and Daniela Grudsky were “shameful”, John Swinney said the talks gave his Government the chance to press the need for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza.

The SNP leader intervened after Green MSP Ross Greer accused his Government of adopting a “two-faced approach”.

Mr Greer said of the SNP: “They publicly condemn Israel’s war crimes whilst holding secret meetings with its representatives to discuss so-called ‘mutual interests’.”

Mr Swinney said Mr Robertson had pressed Ms Grudsky on “the killing and suffering of innocent civilians”.

In a series of posts on social media site X, he said: “As First Minister and SNP leader, I will never hold back in expressing support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, an end to UK arms being sent to Israel, and the recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state within a two-state solution.”

Ms Grudsky has claimed the meeting took place to discuss the “unique commonalities” between Scotland and Israel.

She said she had “emphasised the urgent need to bring back” Israelis taken hostage by Hamas.

Mr Greer said: “Angus Robertson wouldn’t dream of meeting representatives of Syria’s murderous Assad regime. Apartheid Israel should be no different.”

Mr Swinney said the meeting last week was used “to express the Scottish Government’s clear and unwavering position on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza”.

He added: “The Scottish Government received the meeting request and accepted on the basis it would provide an opportunity to convey our consistent position on the killing and suffering of innocent civilians in the region.

“I understand why some believe a face-to-face meeting was not appropriate, however, I thought it necessary to outline our long-standing position on an immediate ceasefire directly, and explicitly, to one of Israel’s representatives in the UK.”