Pro-Palestine protestors boo SNP Depute Leader Keith Brown over Israel comments at rally

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Scotland’s former Justice Secretary was booed by pro-Palestinian activists at a rally in Glasgow after saying Israel has a right to "defend itself against terrorism".

Keith Brown, who served in the position under Nicola Sturgeon, spoke at the event on Saturday in front of a large crowd at the city’s Buchanan Street steps.The rally – which also saw an emotional speech from an eight-year-old Palestinian girl – coincided with others in Scotland’s cities, including in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, as well as a highly publicised march in London.The first speaker during the rally, Mr Brown said he was speaking in a personal capacity, as opposed to as the SNP's depute leader and a former minister.

He said: "We need to be clear, collective punishment is a war crime. "It's wrong that the Palestinian people are currently being collectively punished for the actions of a terrorist group.

The only way that we’re going to end the perpetual cycle of violence in Israel and Palestine is by addressing the root cause."That's why we stand for a two state solution, which recognises the sovereignty, the independence, the territorial integrity and the right to self determination of both Palestine and Israel."The speech at the rally, which had been attended by hundreds of activists, went down well at first But boos rang out after the former minister said: "As I say, Israel has a right to defend itself against terrorism."Despite the response, Mr Brown continued: "But that response must be proportionate.