Letter: It has to be voted on by our Councillors

Ms Julie Pearn, a Labour supporter, with the assistance of Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Olivia Blake, assumes that a proposed motion to recognise a sovereign state of Palestine is already a done deal.

Well, it isn't. It has to be voted on by our Councillors. Quite possibly it will be passed: but it's not in the bag yet.

I personally think that the Israeli/Palestinian conflict has assumed a magnitude in Labour Party politics that is beyond sense and reason. The Palestinian cause obsesses Labour leadership and membership to an irrational extent. I think that that the obsessiveness proceeds from something that if it isn't antisemitism, is as near to it as makes no difference.

I accordingly suggest that anyone who grasps this point urge their Councillors to reject any future motion for the recognition of a sovereign state of Palestine. Nobody should be happy about the hijacking of Labour support by Mmes. Pearn and Blake and their friends for this cause. I always say that Israel isn't "a small country of which we know little," but rather a tiny country about which we know far too much. Additionally, there seem to be no stated boundaries for the proposed state of Palestine, so any vote on this would give carte blanche to Palestinians to define the boundaries. This should also concern Sheffield voters, as they won't know exactly what is being voted for in their name. Many people think that handing back the Occupied Territories is the right thing to do: but many Palestinians want the whole of Israel wiped off the map.

But why do Ms Pearn and and Cllr Blake seem to want to believe and convince us that the passing of the motion is inevitable? Haven't we seen in what sort of totalitarian behaviour this kind of thing results, as identified in the recent Panorama revelations? I strongly urge voters of moderation to contact their Councillors forthwith.