The Scottish Government has announced it is suspending all meetings with the Israeli government until it makes “real progress” on peace in Gaza.
External affairs secretary made the announcement following his meeting with an Israeli diplomat last week, which prompted fury within the SNP.
He apologised for meeting with the country’s deputy ambassador to the UK, something he said First Minister John Swinney knew about.
The talk sparked a row within the party, with some politicians reportedly calling for the FM to sack Robertson.
But Swinney backed his minister, saying that the talks with the Israeli diplomat were “necessary”.
In a statement released on Monday, the external affairs secretary said he accepted the meeting from the Israeli deputy ambassador because it was “an opportunity to express the Scottish Government’s clear and unwavering position on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza”.
He said he did not want the meeting to “legitimatise the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza”.
But he added: “The reality, however, is that this meeting has been taken by many to represent a normalisation of relations between the Israeli and Scottish Governments.
“As such, it is clear that it would have been better to ensure that the meeting was strictly limited to the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the appalling loss of life in the region.
“I apologise for the fact that this did not happen.”
Robertson said he had directly told the Israeli government about the Scottish Government’s “unequivocal condemnation of the atrocities we have witnessed in Gaza” and continued calling for a ceasefire in the region.
But he said that going forward “it would not be appropriate to accept any invitation for a further meeting”.
He said that will remain the Scottish Government’s position until “real progress” is made towards peace, including “unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance is provided and Israel cooperates fully with its international obligations on the investigation of genocide and war crimes”.
“The Scottish Government does not support any normalisation of its relations with the Israeli Government during this period,” he continued.
“The Scottish Government will never hold back in expressing support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, an end to UK arms being sent to Israel, and the recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state within a two-state solution.”
The war began on October 7 when Hamas-led militants entered Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250.
Of those, some 110 are still believed to be in Gaza, though Israeli authorities say around a third are dead. More than 100 hostages were released in November during a week-long ceasefire.
Israel’s counterattack in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, and devastated much of the territory.
Israel’s embassy to the UK has been approached for comment.
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