David Cairns - Revision history

Olivia Rendall at 12:52, 5 February 2015

2015-02-05T12:52:19Z

Hilary Aked: /* Friends in the Friends of Israel */

2012-10-29T10:29:22Z

Friends in the Friends of Israel

David: /* America In The World */

2012-10-27T21:01:56Z

America In The World

Hilary Aked at 17:32, 27 October 2012

2012-10-27T17:32:14Z

Hilary Aked: /* Making the Progressive Case for Israel */

2012-10-27T17:24:23Z

Making the Progressive Case for Israel

Hilary Aked: /* Making the Progressive Case for Israel */

2012-10-27T17:23:44Z

Making the Progressive Case for Israel

Hilary Aked: /* Affiliations */

2012-10-27T16:06:59Z

Affiliations

Hilary Aked: /* Resources */

2012-10-27T16:06:14Z

Resources

Hilary Aked: /* Resources */

2012-10-27T16:05:48Z

Resources

Hilary Aked: /* America In The World */

2012-10-27T16:02:42Z

America In The World

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:52, 5 February 2015
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		+	[[File:David Cairns.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|right\|David Cairns]]
	'''David Cairns''' (August 7, 1966 - May 9, 2011) was the Labour MP for Inverclyde from 2001 - 2011 and twice chair of [[Labour Friends of Israel]] (LFI).		'''David Cairns''' (August 7, 1966 - May 9, 2011) was the Labour MP for Inverclyde from 2001 - 2011 and twice chair of [[Labour Friends of Israel]] (LFI).

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:29, 29 October 2012
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	According to another LFI member [[Chris Bryant]] MP, the former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs [[David Miliband]] reminisced, after Cairns' death, about playing word games with him during a meeting with Israeli President [[Shimon Peres]] in Israel along with other LFI members [[Meg Munn]] MP, [[James Purnell]] MP, [[David Mencer]] and [[Linda Perham]].<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/columnists/chris-bryant/chris-bryant-millionaires-dont-have-to-be-bad-leaders--ours-are-just-dangerously-out-of-touch-6268164.html Chris Bryant: Millionaires don't have to be bad leaders – ours are just dangerously out of touch], Independent, 26 November 2011, accessed 25 October 2012</ref>		According to another LFI member [[Chris Bryant]] MP, the former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs [[David Miliband]] reminisced, after Cairns' death, about playing word games with him during a meeting with Israeli President [[Shimon Peres]] in Israel along with other LFI members [[Meg Munn]] MP, [[James Purnell]] MP, [[David Mencer]] and [[Linda Perham]].<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/columnists/chris-bryant/chris-bryant-millionaires-dont-have-to-be-bad-leaders--ours-are-just-dangerously-out-of-touch-6268164.html Chris Bryant: Millionaires don't have to be bad leaders – ours are just dangerously out of touch], Independent, 26 November 2011, accessed 25 October 2012</ref>
		+
		+	===Speaking up for Israel in the House===
		+	Cairns’ record of asking questions about Israel in the House of Commons both oral and written) shows a marked increase in the later years of his career. On 13 January 2009, while Israel’s bombing of Gaza in Operation Cast Lead was ongoing, Cairns asked [[Bill Rammell]], then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, in the Commons if he agreed with ‘genuine fears among the Israeli public that behind Hamas is a country [Iran] led by a lunatic and committed to the destruction of the state of Israel?’<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090113/debtext/90113-0001.htm#09011355000053 House of Commons, Tuesday 13 January 2009 - Column 120, Oral Answers to Questions , Foreign and Commonwealth Office], Hansard, 13 January 2009, accessed 29 October 2012</ref>
		+	On 20 October 2009 he tabled a written question about discussions with the United States Administration on ‘the security situation in the West Bank’.<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091020/text/91020w0014.htm#09102047001871 Written Answers, 20 October 2009, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, West Bank, Column 1381W], Hansard, 20 October 2009, accessed 29 October 2012</ref>
		+
		+	Two days after the Mavi Marmara flotilla was raided by the Israeli military, on 2 June 2010, Cairns asked: ‘Is it not the case that resolution 1860, as well as calling for an end to the blockade, acknowledges that the international community itself has responsibility to ensure that weapons are not smuggled into Gaza?’ and went on to ask how the international community could offer assistance in this regard.<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm100602/debtext/100602-0006.htm#1006029000647 Daily Hansard - Debate, 2 June 2012, Column 453], Hansard, 2 June 2012, accessed 29 October 2012</ref> A month later, on 6 July 2010, Cairns asked the new Tory Foreign Secretary [[William Hague]] if the government remained committed to supporting ‘the work of our [British] armed forces and former police officers on the west bank[sic], as well as, of course, the excellent work of Tony Blair’ which he credited with bringing about ‘steady if unheralded progress on economic and security issues on the west bank’.<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm100706/debtext/100706-0001.htm#10070631000623 House of Commons, Tuesday 6 July 2010 - Column 172, Oral Answers to Questions , Foreign and Commonwealth Office], Hansard, 6 July 2010, accessed 29 October 2012</ref>
		+
		+	In the space of three months, between 14 December 2010 and 15 March 2011, Cairns posed at least 45 questions (oral and written combined) that related to Israel.<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cmallfiles/mps/commons_hansard_2423_wad.html David Cairns - Written Material by date, 2 June 2010 - 15 March 2011], Hansard, n.d, accessed 29 October 2012</ref> His questions in this period were, thematically, overwhelmingly concerned with Israel and its security (and once calling on the Foreign Secretary to congratulate Israel for ‘some easement of the blockade on Gaza’)<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110214/debtext/110214-0002.htm#11021413000694 Daily Hansard - Debate, Column 727, 14 February 2011], Hansard, 14 February 2011, accessed 29 October 2012</ref>; the Occupied Territories (especially aid to Palestinian security forces in the West Bank)<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110228/text/110228w0007.htm#11030113000313 Daily Hansard - Written Answers, Column 171W, 28 February 2011], Hansard, 28 February 2011, accessed 29 October 2012</ref>; Gaza (especially the conduct of Hamas and weapons smuggling to Hamas<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110304/text/110304w0003.htm#11030464000639 Daily Hansard - Written Answers, Column 693W, 4 March 2011], Hansard, 4 March 2011, accessed 29 October 2012</ref> but also the humanitarian situation<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110228/text/110228w0006.htm#11030111001234 Daily Hansard - Written Answers, Column 157W, 28 February 2011], Hansard, 28 February 2011, accessed 29 October 2012</ref> and the numbers receiving permits to leave for medical treatment)<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110228/text/110228w0006.htm#11030111001234 Daily Hansard - Written Answers, Column 156W, 28 February 2011], Hansard, 28 February 2011, accessed 29 October 2012</ref>; Lebanon and Hezbollah<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110308/text/110308w0005.htm#1103092000848 Daily Hansard - Written Answers, Middle East, EU External Relations, Column 1043W, 8 March 2011], Hansard, 8 March 2011, accessed 29 October 2012</ref>; Syria<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110304/text/110304w0003.htm#11030464000639 Daily Hansard - Written Answers, Column 699W, 4 March 2011], Hansard, 4 March 2011, accessed 29 October 2012</ref>; Gilad Shalit<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110209/text/110209w0002.htm#11020974000654 Daily Hansard - Written Answers, Gilad Shalit, Column 257W, 9 February 2011], Hansard, 9 February 2011, accessed 29 October 2012</ref>; what aid the UK was providing to assist ‘joint business initiatives’ between Israel and Palestinians<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110217/text/110217w0004.htm#11021776000890 Daily Hansard - Written Answers, Column 1000W, 17 February 2011], Hansard, 17 February 2011, accessed 29 October 2012</ref>; whether the EU's Association Agreement could be used to encourage other Middle Eastern and North African countries to improve relations with Israel<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110209/text/110209w0002.htm#11020974000654 Daily Hansard - Written Answers, Middle East Peace Negotatians, Column 258W, 9 February 2011], Hansard, 9 February 2011, accessed 29 October 2012</ref>; whether sanction on Iran were effective<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110304/text/110304w0003.htm#11030464000639 Daily Hansard - Written Answers, Column 695W, 4 March 2011], Hansard, 4 March 2011, accessed 29 October 2012</ref>; Iran’s human rights record<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110302/text/110302w0001.htm#11030281000296 Daily Hansard - Written Answers, Column 449W, 2 March 2011], Hansard, 2 March 2011, accessed 29 October 2012</ref>; and Iran’s nuclear capabilities<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110315/text/110315w0004.htm#11031589000814 Daily Hansard - Written Answers, Column 268W, 15 March 2011], Hansard, 15 March 2011, accessed 29 October 2012</ref>. On the latter, he suggested that WIkileaks revelations about regional fear of Iran provided an opportunity to forge a new consensus around the ‘absolute necessity of taking action against Iran before it develops a nuclear capacity, which would be a threat to us all?’<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101214/debtext/101214-0001.htm#10121446000469 House of Commons, Oral Answers to Questions - Foreign and Commonwealth office, Column 797, 14 December 2010], Hansard, 14 December 2010, accessed 29 October 2012</ref> Similarly, in a TheyWorkForYou questionnaire he was previously on record as disagreeing with the statement ‘Even if Iran develops a nuclear weapon, Britain should not support any military action against Iran.’<ref name="profile"/>

	===Making the Progressive Case for Israel===		===Making the Progressive Case for Israel===

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 ===America In The World===
-Along with Tory MP [[John Hayes]], Cairns was a parliamentary chairman of a pro-American organisation called the [[London Centre for the Study of Anti-Americanism]], also known as America in the World (AITW), which was established in October 2008. It was founded and directed by Conservative Party activist [[Tim Montgomerie]] and [[David Cameron]] attended its official launch.
+Along with Tory MP [[John Hayes]], Cairns was a parliamentary chairman of a pro-American organisation called the [[London Centre for the Study of Anti-Americanism]], also known as [[America in the World]] (AITW), which was established in October 2008. It was founded and directed by Conservative Party activist [[Tim Montgomerie]] and [[David Cameron]] attended its official launch.
 The stated aim of the organisation was to combat anti-Americanism which it characterised as a problem that had 'become uglier and less reasonable in recent years'<ref>[http://americaintheworld.typepad.com/aboutaitw/ About AITW], America In The World, 17 August 2008, accessed 27 October 2012</ref> and it asked people to sign up to its declaration against anti-Americanism which stated: 'Ours is a better world because of America. The world is safer because of the American soldier. The world is wealthier because of American enterprise. The world is healthier because of American technology. No nation is perfect, but imagine the world without America. I reject anti-Americanism. I declare myself a friend of the United States of America'.<ref>[http://americaintheworld.typepad.com/declaration/ Please Sign Our Global Declaration Against Anti-Americanism], America In The World, 16 August 2008, accessed 27 October 2012</ref>

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 :As I have set out, it’s because Israel embodies progressive values that I am a proud friend of Israel. And yet I have observed a curious phenomenon: whenever I say something supportive of Israel I am almost always challenged to say something critical too. It’s as if I have to buy permission to say something positive. I’m regularly encouraged to be a “critical friend” by which is usually meant more criticism, less friendship.
-:My point is this: I want to work with all progressives – here, in Israel and the Palestinian territories – to build the confidence and trust that will be required to bring about a lasting agreement. I will be critical of Israel when I need to be. But I call on my friends and colleagues who support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to cease the language of de-legitimisation; to end the comparisons with South Africa and Nazi Germany; to halt the demands for boycotts of Israeli produce and people; to put an end to the movement to sever academic ties; and to recognise Israel’s strong and continuing adherence to the self-same progressive values that we fight for here at home.
+:My point is this: I want to work with all progressives – here, in Israel and the Palestinian territories – to build the confidence and trust that will be required to bring about a lasting agreement. I will be critical of Israel when I need to be. But I call on my friends and colleagues who support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to cease the language of de-legitimisation; to end the comparisons with South Africa and Nazi Germany; to halt the demands for boycotts of Israeli produce and people; to put an end to the movement to sever academic ties; and to recognise Israel’s strong and continuing adherence to the self-same progressive values that we fight for here at home.<ref>David Cairns, [http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/03/16/making-the-progressive-case-for-israel/ Making the progressive case for Israel], Progress Online, 16 March 2011, accessed 27 October 2012</ref>
 ===Memorial trees in JNF forest===

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 His speech concludes:
 :because of Israel’s understandably tough approach to security, including myriad check-points on the West Bank, as well as the Security Barrier, life for Palestinians can be really hard and restrictive, and that offends our sense of fairness. But today I want to propose a new approach for progressives. Currently the dividing line is wrong. People are either categorised as pro-Israel or pro-Palestinian. This creates a pressure to support “your” side in a sectarian, loyalist sense.
 As I have set out, it’s because Israel embodies progressive values that I am a proud friend of Israel. And yet I have observed a curious phenomenon: whenever I say something supportive of Israel I am almost always challenged to say something critical too. It’s as if I have to buy permission to say something positive. I’m regularly encouraged to be a “critical friend” by which is usually meant more criticism, less friendship.
 :My point is this: I want to work with all progressives – here, in Israel and the Palestinian territories – to build the confidence and trust that will be required to bring about a lasting agreement. I will be critical of Israel when I need to be. But I call on my friends and colleagues who support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to cease the language of de-legitimisation; to end the comparisons with South Africa and Nazi Germany; to halt the demands for boycotts of Israeli produce and people; to put an end to the movement to sever academic ties; and to recognise Israel’s strong and continuing adherence to the self-same progressive values that we fight for here at home.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:23, 27 October 2012
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	[[John Woodcock]] MP delivered the keynote speech, penned by Cairns, on his behalf.<ref>[http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/03/16/making-the-progressive-case-for-israel/ Making the progressive case for Israel], Progress Online, 16 March 2011, accessed 25 October 2012</ref> Cairns was unable to attend due to illness and died weeks later. Woodcock was appointed as the new Labour Friends of Israel chair. LFI published a collection of essays under the same name as - and including - Cairns' speech: ''[http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/03/16/making-the-progressive-case-for-israel/ Making the Progressive Case for Israel]''. Gerber, in the acknowledgements, says the speech summed up 'a campaign he wanted to launch to ensure that those on the left of British politics can feel comfortable and proud in their support for the state of Israel and in the foreword, John Woodcock writes that Cairns 'had begun planning for a book on this subject'.<ref>Ben Garratt (ed.), ''Making the Progressive Case for Israel'', Labour Friends of Israel, 2011 (n.d)</ref>		[[John Woodcock]] MP delivered the keynote speech, penned by Cairns, on his behalf.<ref>[http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/03/16/making-the-progressive-case-for-israel/ Making the progressive case for Israel], Progress Online, 16 March 2011, accessed 25 October 2012</ref> Cairns was unable to attend due to illness and died weeks later. Woodcock was appointed as the new Labour Friends of Israel chair. LFI published a collection of essays under the same name as - and including - Cairns' speech: ''[http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/03/16/making-the-progressive-case-for-israel/ Making the Progressive Case for Israel]''. Gerber, in the acknowledgements, says the speech summed up 'a campaign he wanted to launch to ensure that those on the left of British politics can feel comfortable and proud in their support for the state of Israel and in the foreword, John Woodcock writes that Cairns 'had begun planning for a book on this subject'.<ref>Ben Garratt (ed.), ''Making the Progressive Case for Israel'', Labour Friends of Israel, 2011 (n.d)</ref>
		+
		+	In his speech Cairns wrote that 'the failure to make progress in securing an agreement to end the conflict, bolstered by opposition to the very concept of Israel, has resulted in not just reasonable criticism of Israel’s conduct and behaviour, but in increasing attempts to de-legitimise the Israeli state'. He lamented the fact that ‘[i]n the decade of genocide in Darfur, unspeakable war crimes in Sri Lanka, and state-sponsored oppression of gay men and lesbians in a dozen African states, Israel remains the only country that the UN Human Rights Council has specifically condemned' and the fact that 'Israeli speakers are shouted down in university campuses; otherwise left-wing union leaders demand wholesale boycotts of all Israeli produce; Israeli opposition politicians are afraid to come here for fear of arrest; leftish pop stars won’t play concerts in Tel Aviv'.
		+
		+	Cairns states that when it was created Israel was ‘a socialist, egalitarian society, one where Labour would be the natural party of Government' and asserts that '[t]he right of self-determination for the Jewish people was a matter of progressive principle and conscience in 1948 and it should remain so today.'
		+
		+	His speech concludes:
		+	:because of Israel’s understandably tough approach to security, including myriad check-points on the West Bank, as well as the Security Barrier, life for Palestinians can be really hard and restrictive, and that offends our sense of fairness. But today I want to propose a new approach for progressives. Currently the dividing line is wrong. People are either categorised as pro-Israel or pro-Palestinian. This creates a pressure to support “your” side in a sectarian, loyalist sense.
		+	As I have set out, it’s because Israel embodies progressive values that I am a proud friend of Israel. And yet I have observed a curious phenomenon: whenever I say something supportive of Israel I am almost always challenged to say something critical too. It’s as if I have to buy permission to say something positive. I’m regularly encouraged to be a “critical friend” by which is usually meant more criticism, less friendship.
		+
		+	:My point is this: I want to work with all progressives – here, in Israel and the Palestinian territories – to build the confidence and trust that will be required to bring about a lasting agreement. I will be critical of Israel when I need to be. But I call on my friends and colleagues who support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to cease the language of de-legitimisation; to end the comparisons with South Africa and Nazi Germany; to halt the demands for boycotts of Israeli produce and people; to put an end to the movement to sever academic ties; and to recognise Israel’s strong and continuing adherence to the self-same progressive values that we fight for here at home.

	===Memorial trees in JNF forest===		===Memorial trees in JNF forest===

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 ==Affiliations==
 *[[Labour Friends of Israel]]
 ==Resources==

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 ==Resources==
 *[http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/03/16/making-the-progressive-case-for-israel/ Making the progressive case for Israel]- speech by David Cairns.
-*[http://americaintheworld.typepad.com/journal/2008/11/america-and-bri.html America and Britain enjoy a true love, full of all the attendant passion, trauma and occasional tiff]-article with [[John Hayes]] MP for the [[London Centre for the Study of anti-Americanism]].
+*[http://americaintheworld.typepad.com/journal/2008/11/america-and-bri.html America and Britain enjoy a true love, full of all the attendant passion, trauma and occasional tiff]-article with [[John Hayes]] MP for the [[London Centre for the Study of Anti-Americanism]].
 ==References==