Thousands of Britons went out in demonstrations in which they denounced the Gaza massacres and called for the Sunak government to be held accountable (Reuters)

Writer Mark Landler said in a report published by the New York Times that some of the repercussions of the ongoing war on Gaza have begun to have clear effects on the political scene in both Britain and the United States, explaining that a number of parties have begun to exploit the issue to try to achieve political gains.

He added that the British Parliament witnessed a battle this week, as legislators booed and left the House of Commons in protest against the Speaker of Parliament’s handling of the vote calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Outside, a crowd of pro-Palestinian demonstrators displayed the slogan “From the River to the Sea” on the face of Big Ben, drawing condemnation from those who view it as a cry for the elimination of Israel.

According to Mark Landler, these scenes and others like them have shown that Israel's war on Gaza is resonating far beyond the Middle East.

A war of statements

The writer pointed out that the ruling Conservative Party took advantage of anti-Israel statements made by a Labor Party parliamentary candidate to accuse his opponent of failing to eliminate the legacy of anti-Semitism in its ranks.

In contrast, Labor cited insulting comments made by a Conservative MP about London's Muslim Mayor Sadiq Khan as evidence of growing Islamophobia among Conservatives.

Landler added that both parties maneuvered fiercely in Parliament regarding the ceasefire decision, not because they disagreed greatly about the substance of the decision, but rather because the conservatives saw it as an opportunity to highlight the differences within the Labor Party regarding Britain’s support for Israel.

The report quoted Stephen Fielding, emeritus professor of political history at the University of Nottingham, as saying that this is an example of how a serious issue is distorted through the prism of party politics in Britain.

Writer Landler added that anger among some Democrats in the United States over President Joe Biden's strong support for Israel fueled a protest vote in the Michigan primary this week, raising questions about whether the war could change the outcome of the closely contested presidential election. Close.

Retractions

In France, President Emmanuel Macron was forced to retreat from his full support of Israel.

But in Germany, support for Israel continues as a firm principle in light of its responsibility for the Holocaust, even though Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock recently began emphasizing the importance of “the survival of the Palestinians.”

The writer stressed that the conflict has awakened disturbing ghosts in British politics. When Lee Anderson, the Conservative MP, spoke about “Islamist control” in reference to London Mayor Sadiq Khan, he was trading in this type of anti-Muslim sentiment.

Khan described the comments as "racist, anti-Islamic and anti-Muslim".

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suspended Anderson from the party, but he is now facing criticism from the party's right wing for doing so.

The writer reported that Sunak's government has changed its position on the conflict in recent weeks enough to erase differences with the opposition.

On a trip to the Falkland Islands last week, Foreign Secretary David Cameron called for a ceasefire, saying the fighting must stop "immediately."

Political exploitation

According to Sander Katwala, director of the British Future Institute for Research on Migration and Ethnicity, David Cameron and Keir Starmer - the leader of the Labor Party - have the same position on Israel and Gaza, and both adopt the position of two-thirds of the public.

But even if Starmer wins the general election, Israel could pose a problem for him in government.

The writer explained that the war on Gaza represents a different set of challenges for conservatives, just like the Republican Party in the United States, which has taken a strong position in favor of Israel.

According to Ben Ansell, professor of comparative democratic institutions at Oxford University, many Conservative MPs will lose their seats, so they are looking for media opportunities to appear and attract votes, and here it appears that playing on anti-Muslim sentiment reflects a last-ditch attempt by the Conservatives to derail the Labor Party’s momentum. .

Source: New York Times