The three Convenors of Scottish Parliament's Palestine Cross Party Group have refused to participate in an MSP led exploratory joint meeting with the Convenors of the Building Bridges with Israel Cross Party Group.
The Convener and Deputy Convener of Building Bridges with Israel wrote jointly to Sandra White MSP, who is listed on The Scottish Parliament website as Convener of the Palestine CPG, in both January and April 2018 to suggest meeting between MSP Convenors to explore a potential joint meeting of the Cross Party Groups.
There was no response to the letter of January 2018 and the April letter was hand delivered to Sandra White MSP's office by the office of the Deputy Convener of Building Bridges with Israel.
In responding to the proposal the Palestine CPG's "Co-Conveners" considered that a joint meeting "would not be conducive to the aims of the CPG on Palestine [...]"
A joint meeting, on an agreed working agenda pursuing matters of common interest, was an aim of the founding document proposing the Building Bridges with Israel Cross Party Group.
Sandra White MSP is the Convener of the Cross Party Group on Palestine with Clauda Beamish MSP and Ross Greer MSP serving as Deputy Conveners according to The Scottish Parliament's website.
Commenting Building Bridges with Israel Convener, Jackson Carlaw MSP said:
"It is hugely dispiriting and sinister that even supposedly mature fellow MSPs can believe that the simple act of meeting to consider the organising of a joint meeting on an issue of importance to both Cross Party Groups wouldnot be conducive to the interests of our Scottish Parliament.
"If MSPs cannot come together to discuss and explore matters then where does that leave us and what does that say to a wider peaceful and democratic debate?
"I shall be writing again with my Deputy Convener Richard Lyle MSP to ask the Convenors of the Cross Party Group on Palestine to urge them to reconsider their view."
Deputy Convener Richard Lyle MSP added:
"Given that Jackson Carlaw and I have both attended events hosted by CPG on Palestine to demonstrate our willingness to promote engagement it is hard to see what fundamental issues there would be about elected MSPs even meeting to discuss the possibilities for a joint event."