Scottish Green MSP Faces Calls to Resign Over Endorsing Antisemitic Post

Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess is facing demands for her resignation after endorsing an antisemitic social media post. An investigation by The Mail on Sunday revealed that Burgess, the Scottish Greens MSP for the Highlands, liked an image on Instagram and Facebook that depicted the Israeli flag with a swastika on it, covered in blood.

The post in question was shared by former SNP and Green MSP John Finnie, who has also previously made controversial statements, including describing Israeli soldiers as 'Nazis in action' and sharing a cartoon of an Israeli soldier in Nazi military attire.

Opposition parties and Jewish leaders have condemned the content and Burgess's support for it. The board of the Jewish Council of Scotland described the material as 'grotesque and antisemitic' and urged the Scottish Greens to take immediate action. A spokesperson for the council stated that depicting the Israeli flag with a blood-covered swastika is 'grotesque and antisemitic' and 'exploits the murder of six million Jews to demonise the Jewish state.' They added that comparing Israeli soldiers to Nazis is 'repugnant, dehumanising language.'

Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton called on Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay to 'grow a backbone and suspend Ariane Burgess from the Scottish Greens.' This incident follows recent condemnation of Mr. Greer for backing claims that Zionism is racism.

Burgess has stated that she liked the post in error. "It has only come to my attention today, and it appears this post was liked in error," she said. "It was not my intention to cause any harm, but I accept that the post liked by my account was clearly inappropriate and distasteful and any interaction with it could be upsetting or distressing. I never want anyone to feel alienated, hurt or disappointed by my interactions on social media or in person."

The Jewish Council of Scotland has called for the Scottish Greens' leadership to publicly condemn the material, investigate Burgess's endorsement, and clarify what action will follow. They also raised concerns about whether Jewish concerns are being heard within the party, particularly in light of the Greens' decision to treat Zionism as racism.