A quick look at Corbyn's Middle East policies
A quick look at Corbyn's Middle East policies
Blog: No to air raids in Syria and Iraq, no to the siege of Gaza and yes to the championing of human rights.
2 min read
23 Sep, 2015
Corbyn has been Islington North's MP since the general election of 1983 [Getty]
British politician Jeremy Corbyn has made quite a commotion since he become the leader of the Labour Party just a few weeks ago, with a clear move away from his party's old United States-aligned militaristic approach to conflict - towards a focus on peaceful solutions.
The veteran parliamentarian is vehemently opposed to air raids in Syria because he believes they would only worsen the situation and create "more mayhem" in the region.
"I opposed the bombing of Syria in 2013 in that historic vote and would continue that position," Corbyn told the Middle East Eye.
Corbyn has called for the lifting of the siege on Gaza, strongly condemning Israeli aggression while calling for the right of return of Palestinian refugees.
"There is no limit to the hatred and persecution emanating from Israel towards these people - and it is time to put words into action," he said during the 2014 Israeli war against Gaza.
He insists that talking to Hamas - regarded by the US and Israel as a terrorist group - is essential to resolving the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The possible future leader of Britain has also said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi should not have been invited to the UK because of his human rights record and the imprisonment of Mohammad Morsi.
Corbyn said the best way to defeat the Islamic State group [IS] was to "economically isolate" the extremist group and support Kurdish autonomy.
"We make ourselves safer by not being part of US foreign policy at every single turn," he said.
"We make ourselves safer by saying we understand the diversity of faith and diversity of aspirations around the world."
Corbyn believes that making his country a force of human rights around the world - instead of a force of military interventions - would make the UK a safer place.
The veteran parliamentarian is vehemently opposed to air raids in Syria because he believes they would only worsen the situation and create "more mayhem" in the region.
"I opposed the bombing of Syria in 2013 in that historic vote and would continue that position," Corbyn told the Middle East Eye.
Corbyn has called for the lifting of the siege on Gaza, strongly condemning Israeli aggression while calling for the right of return of Palestinian refugees.
"There is no limit to the hatred and persecution emanating from Israel towards these people - and it is time to put words into action," he said during the 2014 Israeli war against Gaza.
He insists that talking to Hamas - regarded by the US and Israel as a terrorist group - is essential to resolving the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The possible future leader of Britain has also said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi should not have been invited to the UK because of his human rights record and the imprisonment of Mohammad Morsi.
Corbyn said the best way to defeat the Islamic State group [IS] was to "economically isolate" the extremist group and support Kurdish autonomy.
"We make ourselves safer by not being part of US foreign policy at every single turn," he said.
"We make ourselves safer by saying we understand the diversity of faith and diversity of aspirations around the world."
Corbyn believes that making his country a force of human rights around the world - instead of a force of military interventions - would make the UK a safer place.
Follow the Middle East's top stories in English at The New Arab on Google News
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