I wrote this song a couple of months ago because I was horrified to discover that the UK government is working on a ‘Roadmap’ to conclude a bi-lateral trade deal with Israel. This was initiated by Rishi Sunak’s government and the current government was, until a few days ago, still committed to its implementation. Finally, the UK government has suspended talks on this proposed agreement with Israel. They have said nothing about any existing trade deals, or suspending any more weapons sales, or how long they will stop the talks for.
We already have a trade agreement with Israel, but the new one is about ‘developing our special relationship’ – you can read all about it on the UK government’s own website. It is really important that we know about it and insist that the whole thing is scrapped, not ‘until aid is let in’ or ‘ there is a permanent ceasefire, or a so-called peaceful and just solution’, or any other of the trite things our appeasing governments have trotted out to justify their support for a murderous regime that doesn’t give a damn for international law, human rights, or the lives of countless children and babies and their families.
We have to let everyone know what such a trade deal involves and why it is, quite frankly, evil.
Just to give you a flavour – from the website:
As two of the most innovative and dynamic economies in the world – both in the top 15 of the Global Innovation Index – we know that the opportunities of the future will come from sectors in which we both excel, such as technology, research and development, digital and data.
And then, unbelievably, considering what is happening:
The government also takes seriously its international obligations and commitments, including on human rights.
And just to make you feel secure: Our trade relationship is worth around £7 billion, and there are more than 400 Israeli tech firms operating in the UK. Israeli investment into the UK drives growth and jobs, adding around £1 billion gross value to the UK economy and creating about 16,000 jobs in the last 8 years.
Some of you may know that the British Library in London suffered a really bad cyber attack in 2023. What you may not know is that the entire British Library sound archive now sits on an Israeli server.
I already knew about the wheelchairs. The Israeli company Wheelshare have invented a docking system, like the shopping trolleys in supermarkets, now being trialled in our hospital A and E departments. You get the first four hours free but then get charged £2/hour. They’ve been installed at Kings College hospital in Lambeth, Hillingdon, and other hospitals. They’re unlocked with a credit card and the hours start racking up immediately. So the sicker you are, the more likely to run up a debt.
Apparently King’s has some of the worst waiting times in country, with some patients waiting up to 12 hours to be seen in A&E. It would result in a typical charge of £16 for any patient with mobility issues having to wait half a day before they get seen.
Just as I finished writing the song, I read about Palantir, a US military spyware company which has provided Israel with the technology to carry out the devastating target bombings in Gaza. Palantir has been described as a ‘merchant of death by AI’. One of its chief CEOs, Karp, is in league with Trump and Musk, committed to ‘organised violence’ and determined to snuff out any US student protest about Israel.
Our government now plans to pay this company to store NHS patient data.
Finally, Paragon is a spyware company based in Israel. It has been linked to campaigns against journalists reporting from Palestine, as well as social activists and left-wing journalists across Europe. It calls itself ‘ethical’ and exports all around the world.
You can listen to the song here: https://lakenheathallianceforpeace.org.uk/special-relationship-with-genocide/