Nick Clegg warms to Israel while Ed Miliband distances himself

There appears to be an interesting policy shift or some may consider the usual political musical chairs of power and influence that occurs when an opposition party moves into govt.

Recent history appears to be coming full circle and repeating itself over what I often defined as a left of center party like the Lib Dems whose strong tradition of human rights and justice for Palestinians in opposition appears to be cooling as they comfortably manoeuvre their legs under the tables of power. Paradoxically, Labour under Ed Miliband seem in opposition to once again be reverting to their more traditional supportive stance on Palestine in contrast to the rather shameful and slavish Israel first approach of B£iar, Lord Levy and the Labour Friends of Israel.

Take a look at this shocking video of Nick Clegg attending and cosying up to the Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel fringe event during their conference which interestingly was not widely reported and as yet has not really registered with Muslim voters. A party who in opposition aggressively courted the Muslim vote and managed to hoodwink me thus succeeding in constituencies like Brent and Bradford East while just missing out on Watford and Rochdale appear to be exhibiting a similar hesitancy like Labour in pursing progressive policies on Palestine now they are in Government. Ministers at the FCO as I've already highlighted like Alistair Burt are strong supporters of Israel.

Alternatively take a look at this excellent video of Ed Miliband's speech during the Labour Party conference which he backed up by attending the hugely successful Labour Friends of Palestine fringe event.

The difficult challenge for Labour and Ed Miliband is to firmly entrench and establish the traditional view within Muslim communities that despite their appalling foreign policy record while in office they have seen the error of their ways and are genuinely distancing themselves from Israel's occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people. 

In the best traditions of Govt losing office rather than oppostions winning Nick Clegg seems at this early stage to be proving what many Muslims suspected that a vote for the Lib Dem's is a wasted vote and evidently allows a Tory Government to pursue its pro Israel agenda unhindered on an issue that has nothing to do with the deficit an excuse often used by Lib Dem's to justify the ditching of numerous previously held cherished policy positions.