Will peace talks succeed?

Peace negotiations unlikely to bear fruit

April 2026

This is being written while negotiations are taking place in Islamabad to see if a solution can be found to the war between the US, Israel and Iran. It does not look hopeful but maybe we will be writing a post soon to record a successful conclusion, let us hope so.

The 123rd vigil took place in Salisbury this Saturday ((11th) and was well attended as usual. Two groups joined us at various times which is always nice to see. There were many motorists who sounded their horns. There is a video of the event.

There was a protest which took place in London with over 500 arrested despite the peaceful nature of the event. It was in aid of Palestine Action organised by Defend our Juries. Under the guise of shortening the waiting lists for trials, the government is proposing to end jury trials in certain circumstances. One reason might be that juries have a habit of acquitting people in cases involving protest and climate actions.

The High Court has ruled that the prescription is ‘disproportionate and unlawful’. The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is appealing this decision which will be heard in two weeks time.

Killing continues in Gaza

Meanwhile, the killing continues. Gaza has dropped out of the news with the war in Iran and the partial closure of the Straight of Hormuz taking the attention. But since the ceasefire, 749 have lost their lives which makes it a peculiar kind of ceasefire. Supplies of food and other necessities are still being restricted by the Israelis. The death toll stands are 72,328 with around 172,000 injured. 2,000 have now been killed in Lebanon.

There is a kind of paradox with the government keen to support Israel who are in the process of attacking Lebanon and continuing to allow arms sales to take place. Israel is using white phosphorus in Lebanon, a dreadful weapon. It is accused of genocide in Gaza and has occupied nearly all the agriculturally valuable land. Settlers have stepped up their attacks on Palestinians living in the West Bank and destroying their property with impunity. Apartheid is practised. They have led the US into an unwinnable war in Iran. The Knesset has just passed a law which will lead to the execution of Palestinians in the West Bank, probably following confessions or evidence achieved using torture. On these matters the government are largely silent whereas they take resolute action against hundreds of those who peacefully protest. A bizarre contradiction.

As usual there was no sign of the local MP Mr John Glen who announced in the Salisbury Journal he was ‘proud’ to be a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel organisation. He has never mentioned the vigils in his weekly Journal column. In a Bylines piece, membership of this organisation is questioned asking how is it possible for MPs and ministers to accept the hospitality and to remain impartial and act on behalf of those who voted them in? Israel has invested around £1m in this lobbying – evidently money well spent. Mr Glen clearly does not represent the views of those attending the vigil and probably other constituents as well. The Trade minister Peter Kyle is a member of the Labour equivalent.

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Sources: Guardian, Independent, Declassified, Salisbury Journal; Haaretz.

Video and photo courtesy of Peter Gloyns. See also the SCIP website for two events of interest.

• Will peace talks succeed?
• April minutes and newsletter
• Government deceit concerning arms exports
• Human Rights and the Abuse of Anti-Terrorism Powers
• Global Refugee Crisis: Current Statistics and Trends

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