Scottish First Minister Heckled at Book Festival Event

A heated exchange took place at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Tuesday evening, as a pro-Palestinian protester confronted Scottish First Minister John Swinney over his government’s ties to Israel.

Protesters at a book festival

The incident occurred during a discussion event featuring Swinney and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, who were marking 25 years of devolution in Scotland and Wales. Towards the end of the discussion, a woman stood up in the audience and began shouting at Swinney, accusing him of giving money to companies “complicit in Gaza” through Scottish Enterprise.

She continued to shout about the situation in the Gaza strip, calling for Swinney and External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson to resign over the latter’s meeting with Israel’s deputy ambassador. Despite other members of the audience asking her to stop and allow others to speak, the woman refused to back down and was eventually escorted from the venue.

The Backstory

The confrontation was sparked by a recent meeting between Robertson and Israel’s deputy ambassador, Daniela Grudsky. Robertson apologised for the meeting, saying it should have been limited to calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Swinney has also weighed in on the issue, calling on the UK government to “unpick” the Internal Market Act to show good faith to devolved administrations. He also expressed concerns about Scottish Secretary Ian Murray’s plans to spend £150 million “over the heads” of the Scottish Parliament.

John Swinney speaking at an event

The Reaction

The incident has sparked a heated debate about Scotland’s relationship with Israel and the role of the Scottish government in promoting peace in the Middle East.

As the situation in the Gaza strip continues to deteriorate, it remains to be seen how the Scottish government will respond to the growing calls for action.

Protesters holding signs

The Future

As the Scottish government navigates the complex web of international relations, it is clear that the issue of Israel and Palestine will continue to be a major point of contention.

With the UK government facing growing pressure to take action, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming weeks and months.

A map of the Middle East