On the morning of October 7th, I was in my parents’ living room in Ireland, watching the news. I felt a deep sense of dread. I knew exactly what was coming next. “Try not to worry about what’s happening in Palestine,” my mum told me. My GP echoed the same advice when I sought time off work for stress. Though well-intentioned, it just wasn’t something I could do. 

The UEA community is deeply concerned about the situation in Palestine, Israel, and Gaza. Opinions vary widely, and many of us are profoundly affected. Here, I outline the positions of some political parties and candidates in Norwich South on these issues. 

The Conservative and Unionist Party 

Leader: Rishi Sunak 

Norwich South Candidate: David Simister-Thomas 

Senior Tory candidates have given exclusive interviews to the right-wing newspaper The Jewish Chronicle (this right-wing stance does not reflect the entirety of the British Jewish community), suggesting worrying approaches to the fight for Palestinian liberation. This includes Tory Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden claiming that, if re-elected, “The Conservative government would defy an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.” 

The Conservative Party manifesto is more vague, laden with innuendo. It includes vague references to “protecting the security and interests of our partners in the Middle East,” and when addressing Israel/Palestine specifically, the Conservatives advocate for a two-state solution, stating they will recognize a Palestinian state “when it is most conducive to the peace process.” The party firmly supports Israeli statehood and its right to self-defence, holding it “steadfastly,” while Palestinian statehood is treated more tentatively, at arm’s length. Their goal seems to be “peace,” a quietness; not equality and justice. 

The Labour Party 

Leader: Keir Starmer 

Norwich South Candidate: Clive Lewis 

Labour currently faces criticism for double standards: controversial pro-Israel activist (and self-described “Zionist Sh*tlord”) Luke Akehurst was chosen as a candidate for a safe seat, while Dr Faiza Shaheen, who supports Palestinian rights, was blocked from standing for parliament. 

In Norwich South, Clive Lewis, the current MP since 2015, has a pro-Palestine and pro-peace record. He voted for a ceasefire in Gaza in November 2023 and spoke in the Commons about Israel provoking famine. Critical of Labour’s shift to the right, journalist Owen Jones still supports Lewis, viewing him as an alternative to “catastrophic” Conservative policies. Will Clive get Labour off the hook in Norwich South? 

The Liberal Democrats 

Leader: Ed Davey 

Norwich South Candidate: Sean Bennett 

The Liberal Democrats count in their number Layla Moran, the only Palestinian MP in the outgoing Parliament. In November, Moran, along with Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Their stance, however, lacks acknowledgement of the power imbalance, placing equal responsibility upon Israel and Hamas to create peace when Israel is arguably the bigger player: not only does Israel hold hundreds more Palestinian hostages than Hamas, but in 2021, Israel’s military spending was several billion dollars higher than the combined GDP of all Palestinian territories. The Liberal Democrats, like most mainstream parties, so advocate for a two-state solution, which some argue could perpetuate the status quo and exclude Palestinians from their homes in what is now Israel. 

The Green Party of England and Wales 

Leaders: Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay 

Norwich South Candidate: Jamie Osborn 

Jamie Osborn, a former Extinction Rebellion activist, has expressed views on wealth distribution and climate change, which resonate with many left-leaning voters and students. In his recent interview with Concrete, Osborn affirmed his commitment to fighting for a ceasefire and an arms embargo against Israel, arguing that “the UK shouldn’t be selling arms to any country that uses them to kill innocent people … to abuse human rights,” emphasising that the UK should apply this rule not only to Israel but also other countries such as Saudi Arabia. The Greens’ national manifesto advocates for “a durable political solution,” the “prosecution of war crimes,” and “An end to all UK arms exports to and military cooperation with Israel, which make the British government complicit.”  

Reform UK 

Leader: Nigel Farage 

Norwich South Candidate: Graham Burton 

Nigel Farage recently had an epiphany: it would be an INJUSTICE to ROB the BRITISH PEOPLE of such a political juggernaut as he. As a result, he decided to run for Parliament in Clacton. “You can’t barrage the Farage” – he didn’t say that, but Nigel, if you email me, you can have it for 5 quid and a snakebite. 

Known for his Islamophobic comments as well as some frankly pretty ‘dodgy’ comments about Jews, Farage has described Gazan refugees as a group incompatible with British identity, a stance offensive to those who identify as Muslim and British, Palestinian and British, or both. There is little information about Graham Burton, the Reform UK candidate for Norwich South, on their website.

Afterword  

Understanding these stances is crucial for voters who care deeply about the future of Palestine and Israel. But we can’t forget how this topic tells us how they handle other issues. How does that Party or candidate view those marginalized in UK society? Is their foreign policy one full of compassion or nukes? And how will protestors be treated – with a seat at the table or a zip-tie on their wrists? 

Finally, I would like to invite any readers to speak to me if they would like to chat about Israel, Palestine, and Gaza in good faith; it can be a difficult and, for some, triggering topic, but we owe it to ourselves to not only be brave but extend compassion to each other as much as we are able. 

 ‘Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleynu; v’al kol ha-olam. V’imru: Amen.’ 
(May the one who creates peace on high bring peace to all the world. And we say: Amen.)