The British Labor Party voted, during its annual conference in Brighton, on a resolution adopting the term "apartheid" to describe Israeli policies towards the Palestinians, and called for the recognition of a Palestinian state.

The defiant motion passed despite Party leader Keir Starmer’s objection.

The party members condemned, by a clear majority, “the ongoing Nakba in Palestine, Israel’s military attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque, the deliberate displacement of Sheikh Jarrah residents, and Israel’s war on Gaza.” They also welcomed the International Criminal Court’s investigation into "Israel’s" crimes.

🚨BREAKING🚨

Historic motion on Palestine passes at Labour Party Conference 2021 acknowledging that Israel is practicing apartheid and calling for strong sanctions #Lab21 #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/nmsvZDxIYR

— PSC (@PSCupdates) September 27, 2021

The members of the conference recommended imposing strict standards on commercial activities with "Israel", to include a ban on the sale of British arms to "Israel".

The resolution indicated the need to impose sanctions against "Israel", as well as its rejection of settlement policies in the occupied territories.

Starmer’s leadership has been marked by an odious attempt at downplaying the sufferings of the Palestinian people under the Israeli occupation. Furthermore, Starmer became leader after ex-leader Jeremy Corbyn was ousted, along with other members, due to their support of the Palestinian cause which was largely deemed “anti-Semitic.”

It seems though that the party which Starmer vowed to unify is now more divided, and certainly more unaccepting of Israeli apartheid practices. 

Resigned shadow employment minister Andy McDonald, a Labour member, attacked Starmer’s leadership:

"After 18 months of your leadership our movement is more divided than ever, and the pledges you made to the membership are not being honoured."  

It should be noted that last year, a resolution was issued by the Trade Union Congress describing Israel’s settlement activity as “part of the crime of apartheid and apartheid committed by Israel in the occupied territories.” It also called on trade unions in Europe and all over the world to “join the international campaign to stop annexation and end apartheid.”

The Israeli occupation had previously expressed its concern about the rise of the Labor Party in Britain, where Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Hotovely said that it "represents a threat to bilateral relations.”