Support the Palestinians

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Labour Cttee on Palestine emergency motion CONFERENCE notes the forced withdrawal from Beirut of the leadership of the Palestinian people and the attempt to set up a regime under the leadership of the Phalangist Gemayel to preside over a long-term Israeli occupation of Conference wishes to take up its responsibility to the Palestinian and Lebanese people, and specifically it:

1. Recognises the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, without whom no settlement in the Middle East can be negotiated.

2. Demands an international investigation into Israeli war crimes in Lebanon, and into the position of the new 3. Guarantees support to the Lebanese National Movement in their struggle against the fascist Phalange, and demands the immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops to 4. Commits the Labour Party to supporting the establishment of a democratic secular state of Palestine as the long-term solution of the Palestine problem. THE Labour Campaign for Gay Rights intends to be present in force at the Labour Party Conference -leafletting, holding its fringe meetings, pushing policies.

It will be pressing for a debate on resolution no. 514, from St. Pancras North CLP, which calls for full equal rights for gay people as part of a campaign for 'the eradication of prejudice on the part of heterosexuals and self-oppression on the part of homosexuals' and the positive representation in education and in the media of homosexuThe LGCR will also be publicising the failure of the Labour National Executive Committee's draft 'Programme 82' to support equal rights.

'The NEC', , LCGR points out, 'is proposing a discriminatory policy on gay rights. The age of consent for gay men would be reduced to 18 not 16; gay relationships for both sexes would remain illegal in the armed forces and merchant navy; lesbian sexuality would still remain unrecognised.' In this Programme 82 'The Rights Men and Women' LCGR campaigned to publicise this document (which Labour Party HQ at Walworth Road preferred to keep semi-secret) and got discussion in many Constituency Labour Parties. Not one CLP - so LCGR was reliably informed - wrote to Walworth Road opposing the document; several supported it.

Consent

But Programme 82 still proposes that the law should consider non-gays n for Gay Rights:

until they are 18! (The law doesn't believe that lesbians even exist.)

The LCGR is however advising supporters to support the NEC in any vote. A successful reference-back by the conservatives of left and right would leave Labour with no policy rather than an unsatisfactory one.

In any case LCGR will be mobilising support for a battle starting now to get a non discriminatory policy passed at next year's Labour conference. wave of refugees..

agreed borders.

nat M BRENT smeared him as an antisemite, and a collaborator. He challenged the Jewish Board of Deputies to match Brent East's record on fighting fascism.

Among the audience was local MP Reg Freeson, who has been under attack lately for his pro-Zionist stance - he left early to address a Labour Friends of Israel meeting in the local synagogue. Also present was John Lebor - the exleader of Brent Council who is at present facing expulsion from the party for telling the electorate to vote SDP to keep Alf Filer out. Lebor demonstrated his commitment to the movement by asking Ken Livingstone a question and walking out before the answer.

Much of the meeting was

tt

marred by persistent heckling from a handful of Herut heavies whose racist comments and ill manners shocked even those Zionists . present. These thugs had the nerve to call the police and claim assault after they had been ejected by stewards.

The success of this meeting, despite the resistence of the local Zionist Establishment, shows that Labour Parties can and must transform their good intentions into concrete solidarity with the Palestinians. There is an audience for the Palestinian case at a time when workers and even many jews are questioning their commitment to Zionism after the holocaust in the ge IN China it was a hundrec flowers blooming, a thou sand thoughts contending In Blackpool it will be fringe meetings. For delegates/visi tors looking for recommen dations, SO would suggest SUNDAY 10.30. Tribune Group of MPs. 'Any Quest ions' . Planet Rooms. Winte Gardens. (Go along and asl them why they are suppor ting the witch-hunt) 11.00: Labour CND Peac March and Rally Metro Hotel, North Promen ade. Rally. 12.15, Manches ter Square. 1.45. CLPD Pre Conferenc Rally. Planet Room Winter Gardens. 4.15: CLPD Women's Ac tion Committee Wo men's Caucus (details ann ounced at CLPD Rally). 7.30. London Labour Brie fing Meeting Ou Struggle for Power. Clare mont Hotel, 270 Nortl Promenade.

MONDAY 5.30. SCLV/S. Wales Cam paign for LP & TI Democracy. 'A Question o Leadership'. Film and dis cussion. The Lobster Po1 Market St. 7.30. CLPDWAC/RACS Women's Right Rally Baronial Hall Winte Gardens.

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it, Manchester 1 sex at 16, but gay men not