- Conference
- 2024 National Young Members' Conference
- Date
- 15 November 2024
- Decision
- Carried
This conference notes:
1. On 01October 2024 Israel launched a major bombardment and ground invasion of Lebanon, causing thousands of deaths, and around one million people to be displaced.
2. On 26October 2024, Israel launched airstrikes on Syria, Iraq, and Iran.
This conference further notes:
3. Israel’s war is an assault on young people and workers. The median age in Gaza is 18 years old; 80% of Gaza’s schools have been destroyed or damaged, along with all of its universities; the unemployment rate is 79.7%.
4. Over 43,000 Palestinians have been killed, over 70,000 injured, and almost all of Gaza’s population has been displaced..
5. Israel is on trial for genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has applied for arrest warrants for senior Israeli leaders for crimes against humanity and war crimes.
6. This follows decades of violations of Palestinian human rights and international law, ethnic cleansing, and the imposition of a system of oppression against all Palestinians that is recognised internationally as meeting the legal definition of apartheid.
7. Palestinian trade unionists are at the forefront of their people’s struggle for freedom and justice and have called on their counterparts to end all forms of complicity with Israel’s crimes.
8. Many UNISON young members have joined demonstrations to support calls for an immediate ceasefire; this is a central issue for young trade unionists.
This conference believes:
1. The conflict has escalated into a regional war, and, given Israel’s possession of a nuclear arsenal, further escalation poses both an emergency and an existential threat.
2. Without the military support of its allies (especially the US and UK), Israel would no longer be able to continue its aggression.
3. Our primary concern should be the actions of our government and its allies, as this is where we have the most leverage and responsibility.
4. There can be no military resolution to the conflict, this situation can only end through dialogue.
This conference asks the National Young Members Forum to:
1. Encourage UNISON young members to urge the British government and members of parliament to call for:
a)An immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from all occupied lands in Palestine and Lebanon; and
b. An end to the siege of Gaza.
2. Work with the NEC to support UNISON’s involvement in boycott, divestment and sanctions campaigns.
3. Publicise UNISON’s affiliation with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) to regional young member forums and encourage young members to participate in PSC campaigns and demonstrations.
4. Work with Labour Link to secure a commitment from the UK government to immediately recognise Palestine as a sovereign, independent state; suspend all arms trade with Israel; and support the prosecution of violations of international law by the
ICC and ICJ;
5. Work with Labour Link to call on the UK government for renewed talks to facilitate an internationally supported, just political solution, in line with successive UN resolutions
