Sayeeda Warsi, a senior minister in Britain's Foreign Office, resigned on Tuesday, accusing Prime Minister David Cameron's government of taking a morally indefensible approach to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
While the British government has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Cameron has come in for criticism from political opponents and some members of his own party for what they say has been his reluctance to condemn Israel's actions in stronger terms.
Warsi announced her decision as Israel pulled its ground forces out of the Gaza Strip and started a 72-hour ceasefire with Hamas mediated by Egypt as a first step towards negotiations on a more enduring end to the month-old war.
Gaza officials say the war has killed 1,865 Palestinians, most of them civilians. Israel says 64 of its soldiers and three civilians have been killed since fighting began on July 8, after a surge in Palestinian rocket launches.
Warsi's resignation is embarrassing for Cameron, who has been accused of filling his government with too many middle-class white males. Warsi was not a full cabinet member but had the right to attend and played an important role in mediating between the government and Britain's Muslim community.
Warsi, a baroness who sits in the upper house of parliament, in 2010 became Britain's first Muslim to serve in cabinet but was later demoted to be a senior minister of state at the Foreign Office and a minister for faith and communities.
She announced her resignation on Twitter, publishing a copy of a letter she sent Cameron with the reasons for her decision.
Our approach and language during the current crisis in Gaza is morally indefensible, is not in Britain's national interest and will have a long term detrimental impact on our reputation internationally and domestically, Warsi, 43, said.
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesWarsi's resignation is embarrassing for Cameron, who has been accused of filling his government with too many middle-class white males.
Aug 06th, 2014 - 12:50 am 0Poor Britain, even its ministers and gov’t are first Muslim than British. So in other words, she clearly got into the position not for a capacity but because she was a Muslim to play out the PC mainstream of that dictates the European slaves
In Kiwiland I remember a Conservative member getting hassled by a Maori tv presenter because there was not enough “brown faces” in the party… I guess Maoris are not allowed to get up their arses and enlist in the Conservative party if their beliefs fitted so??
Exactly what has Cameron’s stance in any way benefited Israel ?? In fact Israel is increasingly isolated in Europe.
“Our approach and language during the current crisis in Gaza is morally indefensible, is not in Britain's national interest and will have a long term detrimental impact on our reputation internationally and domestically,”
Aug 06th, 2014 - 03:52 am 0That's kind of vague. Why will these things happen?
It sounds real poetic though.
What Warsi wants is that the whole world joins in and bully Israel and pressure it to drop its guard, bowing to the sensitive whims of Westerner, Arab and Latin-American lefties opinion makers.
Aug 06th, 2014 - 04:42 am 0The Muslims may very well eventually conquer Britain and Europe for they are ever more condescending cowards involved in deep apathy, but ironic that they will not conquer Israel the little Sparta of the Middle East.
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