'We hear you, you were right': Ed Miliband addresses critics of Labour policy on Palestine - Middle East Eye

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has told the "millions of people... who were moved and outraged by the plight of the Palestinian people" that "we hear you, you were right" in his address to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool. 

The foreign secretary used his first speech in the role to indicate a new approach to foreign policy working with "like-minded countries" to "build coalitions on big global issues".

Miliband declared the UK's foreign policy has been reset after Andy Burnham replaced Keir Starmer as prime minister.

"I want to say to the millions of people in this country and indeed elsewhere who have been moved and outraged by the plight of the Palestinian people: we hear you, you were right," Miliband said.

"And under Andy’s leadership, we have reset our approach. We call out ethnic cleansing by the settler terrorists in the West Bank. We call out the evidence of war crimes in Gaza. We call out Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. And we match words with actions."

This comes after earlier this month Miliband declared the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory illegal, and announced both comprehensive sanctions on Israeli settlements and a ban on all arms licences and other exports that "materially contribute to the occupation".

France and Canada followed Britain in banning Israeli settlement goods in a diplomatic coup for the Burnham government.

In his speech on Monday Miliband said: "The bonds of solidarity between the British people and those who yearn for peace in Israel and Palestine are too strong to be broken.

"Our decision to act mobilised the international community, country after country. This is how to make change happen in today’s world. Doing what is right and galvanising others to act too."

He added: "Britain’s interests are served by standing up for our values on the world stage. Our ability to build coalitions on big global issues depends on our ability to bring countries with us."

Last year Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney outlined what has been called the Carney Doctrine - effectively a call for an alliance of middle-ranking nations.

Although not stated explicitly, this would serve as a counterweight to the great powers, in particular the US.

Miliband's speech appeared to echo the Carney Doctrine. He said "our future lies in a stronger, deeper partnership with the European Union" to an enormous cheer from Labour members.

The foreign secretary promised: "We will ban the import of goods from illegal settlements. We will disrupt the supply lines of British finance, British construction and British services for illegal settlements.

"And when it comes to the attempt to destroy the two-state solution, this party, this movement, this government, says 'we will not let you succeed'."

Despite Miliband's praise for people who pushed the government to take a different stance on Palestine, the government is under pressure to reverse the ban on direct action group Palestine Action, which was implemented under Starmer's premiership.

Around 150 people were arrested on Sunday and overnight outside the Labour conference for holding placards saying, "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action."

Lindsey German, the convenor of Stop the War Coalition, which has organised nationwide protests against Israel's genocide in Gaza, responded to Miliband's speech by saying: "For nearly three years our pro-Palestine movement has brought hundreds of thousands of people on to the streets of this country, demanding the British government ends its complicity in the Gaza genocide and stops arming Israel."

German added that Miliband's "silence on Palestine Action and on the government’s attack on the right to protest is... in danger of appearing hypocritical.

"If he truly believes in his responsibility to leave the world a better place then he would join us in demanding Burnham and the home secretary de-proscribe Palestine Action, reverse the legislation that now criminalises large amounts of previously lawful protest and drop the charges!"

In his speech, Miliband denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine and declared that Britain would "stand with the people of Ukraine until they prevail".

He said that "as fascism engulfed Europe," Britain was a "beacon of light". 

He added that Britain should once more stand up for values of democracy and the rule of law.

"Just like in 1945, now it falls to this generation, to this Labour government, to play our part."