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The newly-formed Government is due to face its first challenge next week as Ministers stand divided on whether to diverge from UK foreign policy and join international calls for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
External Relations Minister Ian Gorst yesterday lodged an amendment to a proposition which asks the States Assembly to decide whether it will call for the ceasefire.
Deputy Montfort Tadier's proposition is due to be debated in the States Assembly on Tuesday.
He said the amendment aims to "water down" and "undermine" his original intention to diverge from UK foreign policy.
But Deputy Gorst said that his changes, which have the support of the Chief Minister, "reflect the sensitivities raised by the conflict, both at home and abroad, relating to religious and national communities" and that, according to its constitutional position, there are "limited areas in which Jersey can act internationally."
Pictured: Deputy Montfort Tadier who is also chair of the Jersey Human Rights Group.
His amendment sets up the first challenge for the new Council of Ministers, as Deputy Gorst does not have the support of all other members of Government.
Housing Minister Sam Mezec wrote on social media: "Extremely disappointed that an amendment has been proposed to the Gaza ceasefire proposition which seeks to: bring religion into politics, and tell states members we cannot have a view which isn't ordained by Whitehall."
"We can do better than this," he added.
Extremely disappointed that an amendment has been proposed to the Gaza ceasefire proposition which seeks to:
— Deputy Sam Mézec (@SamMezecJsy) February 22, 2024
1) bring religion into politics, and
2) tell States Members we cannot have a view which isn’t ordained by Whitehall
We can do better than this.
Debates on similar proposals in the UK House of Commons this week descended in chaos, with MPs storming out in protest at the Speaker's decision to accept a Labour amendment.
Deputy Gorst has proposed changing "a permanent ceasefire" to "an immediate suspension of hostilities", and mentions of "an immediate end to the military occupation of Palestine" have been replaced with references specifically to "a two-state solution which provides justice, freedom from occupation, and security for both Israelis and Palestinians".
Labour's amendment to the SNP ceasefire motion on Gaza passed without a vote in the House of Commons.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 22, 2024
The amendment was approved amid chaotic scenes in the House ???? https://t.co/FQ4XJy5CPl pic.twitter.com/Gx1H1k26Du
He also hopes to remove reference to "potential acts of genocide" in the region, a matter which he said is "contested internationally and has not been ruled upon in relation to the conflict in Gaza".
The final part of the proposition originally asked Members "to request that the Government of Jersey express the view of the Assembly on this matter to the UK Government".
With Deputy Gorst's changes, it asks them "to request that the Government of Jersey updates the Assembly over the steps taken by Ministers to raise this matter with the UK Government".
Deputy Tadier said the amendment was "disappointing", adding: "One of the main drivers of the proposition is to put international pressure on calls for a ceasefire now, not just a suspension or pause in hostility.
"Jersey needs to differentiate from the UK and say whether it's got a different position, or whether the UK can act on our behalf.
"This is an opportunity for States Assembly to exercise its own voice and speak for the people of Jersey."
He referred to the importance of an interim ruling of the International Court of Justice which recently found that "what is going on in Gaza has been considered a plausible genocide".
"Prescribing a two-state solution is not for us as a small island to say," Deputy Tadier continued.
He added that he was "disappointed" about the minister's delay in bringing the amendment, after already agreeing to push back the debate several weeks to allow Deputy Gorst more time.
Deputy Gorst argued that the changes were to "better reflect Jersey's established constitutional position" which means the UK government is "ultimately responsible for the defence and international relations of Jersey".
The amendment therefore brings the proposition with UK foreign policy, which Deputy Tadier is hoping to speak out against.
Deputy Gorst added that he wanted "to ensure that any united expression of the Assembly is appropriately balanced and adequately nuanced to reflect the complexity and delicacy of the ongoing situation in Israel and Gaza" and that "consideration of these difficult issues could have been achieved through other mechanisms", such as an In-Committee debate.
In response to Deputy Gorst's amendment, an "emergency protest" has been organised ahead of the debate on Tuesday.
The "March Against Amendments", taking place today at 11.30am, is due to progress from West Centre to the Royal Square.
A protest is also scheduled to be held outside the States Assembly building in the Royal Square on Tuesday at 12.30pm to coincide with the debate.
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