One British Politician Admits He Was Wrong on Israel
Alistair Burt, former British Middle East minister, has openly reflected on his government’s failure to condemn Israel for the killing of Palestinians, acknowledging serious misjudgment.
Unexpected Admission of Mistake
When approached to critique his stance during the 2018 Great March of Return, Burt surprised by candidly admitting,
“I know exactly what I did. I have thought about this a lot.”
Condemning the Killing of Razan al-Najjar
Burt highlighted the case of Razan al-Najjar, a young paramedic fatally shot by an Israeli sniper, stating,
“She was clearly targeted and murdered by the Israelis.”While this was known, Burt was the first British minister to openly acknowledge it.
Critique of Israeli Investigations
He also criticized Israeli inquiries into such deaths as insincere, explaining,
“The investigations were effectively useless and used as a cover by the Israelis for the killing.”
Example of Nabi Salih Incident
To support his claim, Burt referred to the 2011 incident in Nabi Salih, where an Israeli soldier fired a tear gas canister directly into the face of Mustafa Tamimi during a protest against settler water theft in the occupied West Bank.
“An Israeli soldier shot a tear gas canister directly into the face of Mustafa Tamimi while he was protesting against the theft of water by settlers.”
Author's Summary
Alistair Burt’s rare public admission highlights governmental failings in addressing Israeli actions against Palestinians, prompting a call for more honest political reflection.