Jonathan Porritt, a 75-year-old Oxford-educated environmentalist and former adviser to King Charles and Prime Minister Tony Blair, has been arrested and charged under the Terrorism Act for supporting Palestine Action.
Porritt’s activism stems from his deep concern about the UK government’s complicity in the Gaza genocide. Alongside over 700 business leaders, he has called for targeted sanctions against those accused of violating international law, including war crimes.
“It would certainly include members of his cabinet who have been very forthright in the comments that they’ve made, which clearly breach any understanding of the rights of people to exist… and indicate a readiness to ethnically cleanse Gaza and indeed to prepare to do the same in the West Bank,” Porritt stated, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet members.
Porritt emphasizes the need for business leaders to speak out against such blatant attacks on the Palestinian people.
Regarding the effectiveness of boycotting Israeli goods, Porritt shares his personal stance: “I would be deeply unhappy buying anything exported into the UK from Israel. I feel that the government of Israel at the moment and its track record in terms of the way it’s dealt with the situation in Gaza and the West Bank is so repugnant to me personally that I feel uncomfortable supporting the economic standing of that country.”
However, he acknowledges that such individual actions may not bring about significant change.
Porritt’s arrest has sparked controversy, with many questioning the UK government’s decision to outlaw Palestine Action.
According to Porritt, Palestine Action stands for “a readiness to use violence against property as part of its campaigning tactics against… those arms companies [that are] deeply complicit in the continuing genocide in Gaza.”
While this stance is morally defensible, the UK government has chosen to label the group as a terrorist organization, effectively silencing dissent.
The link between militaries, weapons companies, and climate change is another critical issue Porritt highlights.
“The investment in nuclear weapons… upgrades going on all over the world, and increasing the number of warheads again – this is just crazy… and it’s just the worst possible way of trying to increase security for people in their own country – to make these hugely carbon-intensive and destructive investments and yet more weapons of mass destruction.”
In conclusion, Porritt’s activism and statements underscore the complexities and challenges of addressing the Israel-Palestine conflict.
As the situation in Gaza continues to worsen, voices like Porritt’s call attention to the need for accountability and action from governments and corporations alike.