The SSP condemn the Israeli attacks on the people of Gaza.

The Scottish Socialist Party deplores the continued violence in the Middle East and the completely disproportionate violence from the Israel Defense Forces, which amount to collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

We condemn the State sanctioned and executed murders of civilians. The UN has stated that 70% of those who have been killed by drone attack, ground forces, fighter-planes or gun boat have been ordinary Palestinians who are in effect, imprisoned and ghettoized behind the Israeli built  wall. Shockingly, disgustingly, sadly 30% of those killed have been children.

We call upon the Israeli government to rein in their Defense Forces and to remember that the inhabitants of the Gaza strip are human beings, entitled to be treated with dignity; and entitled to the protection of the Israeli Defense Forces for as long  as Israel takes it upon itself to blockade Gaza.

We call upon both Israel and Hamas to cease fire immediately, and call on both sides to refrain from deliberately targeting civilians.

We further call on Israel to end its economic and physical blockade of Gaza, and to replace the essential infrastructure which has been destroyed by its actions - actions which were perpetrated by their Defense Forces with no heed given to their proportionality or legality.

The grievous loss of life of civilians in Gaza is a stain on the reputation not only of the Defense Forces, but on the whole State of Israel.

Statement: Councillor Jim Bollan

As long as the State of Israel behaves in this manner, the Scottish Socialist Party believes we have no option other than to call on our members and supporters, and indeed all Scots, to boycott all Israeli goods.

SSP West Dunbartonshire Councillor, Jim Bollan who in 2010 led his Council to boycott Israeli goods said,

"Zionist Israel must be forced to stop the Genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza.  We need  to build public pressure on all Governments to take action against the Israeli Government to force them to halt the slaughter of Palestinians Immediately.  Israeli Apartheid is no different from that in South Africa.  Solidarity and respect with the Palestinian People."

(Previous - Threats to SSP Councillor from Zionist website: HERE

Statement from Jim Bollan on the threats: HERE

SSP condemn the Israeli attacks on Peace Flotilla HERE )

Update on threats to SSP Councillor Jim Bollan

(see HERE for original post)
Jim has sent this statement to us -

"The death threats and vile hate messages from right wing Zionists will have no effect on the Council's boycott of Israeli goods.  These threats expose the paucity of the arguments these Zionists try to put forward to justify the slaughter of innocent Palestinians by the IDF.  The boycott was unanimously approved by WDC and remains in place.  The Council Leader only last week confirmed and re-enforced our policy which was taken on humanitarian grounds after the IDF killed 1,300 innocent Palestinians in Gaza in 2008/2009.  The Scottish Socialist Party stands 100% behind the Palestinians. Unless we speak out...nothing will change."

CiF Watch Threaten Scottish Councillor

Threat to SSP Councillor from Pro-Zionist Website

Creepy pro-zionist web page, “CiF Watch” (Website HERE and twitter account @CiFWatch) has issued a threat to Councillor Jim Bollan after he endorsed West Dunbartonshire Council’s boycott of Israeli goods.

The West Dunbartonshire boycott reads, This Council condemns the massacre of 9 peace activists by the Government of Israel, and the continuing blockade of Gaza. Council notes these brave people were trying to deliver 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza which has been blockaded since 2007 by the IDF. This Council therefore re-affirms its current boycott of all Israeli goods. Council also agrees to write to all Scottish Local Authorities, Westminster and Holyrood Governments calling on them to implement an immediate boycott of all Israeli goods.
Motion by Councillor Jim Bollan – Boycott of Israeli Goods

US based CiF Watch have posted an article by contributor, Aussie Dave, who has said “Jim Bollan: you are going down.” (see HERE )

The site, was purportedly set up to counter Guardian articles about Israeli Human Rights infringements in the occupied territories and Gaza (see Amnesty International concerns about Israel HERE  and HERE ), but seems to have been set up to threaten anyone with a contrary view to Zionist propaganda.

CiF Watch have refused, contrary to their own site rules that state, “Comments which are ad hominem, racist, contain threats of violence or other inappropriate material will be deleted,” to withdraw the article. In a Twitter conversation with a SSP Campsie member, CiF first denied there was a threat and then said the threat came from Jim. The person behind the Twitter account does not seem to have control, or understanding, of the posts on the CiF site.

The Twitter conversation can be found on the @sspcampsie twitter feed.

(Screen grabs of original article below)

SSP statement after the Israeli storming of the Peace Flotilla HERE

Podcast and video of Jim Bollan HERE and HERE

The cuts - a local SSP response (podcasts)

These three podcasts where the result of a public meeting in Kirkintilloch on March 12th 2011.  They include the opinions of Left Banker, Raphie de Santos, SSP Councillor and West of Scotland top of Scottish Parliament Elections List candidate, Jim Bollan and local activist and Union representative, Willie Telfer (Click on their names to access the podcasts).  Details of music and musicians on individual posts.

To download the MP3 of the podcasts to your ipod/mp3 player, go to the SSP Campsie podcasts archive HERE

The views expressed are the speaker’s own and not those of any other individual or organisation.

Podcast- Jim Bollan on how the cuts are hitting locally

Podcast Powered By Podbean

The views expressed are the speaker’s own and not those of any other individual or organisation.

Music included on this podcast: Roy Moller, "First you fall in Love" (Roy's site HERE  ); Jaques Brel and "Amsterdam" (see HERE for film of this performance -  ) and Steve Cooke with his song from the early nineties, "Alright for some" (More of Steve's music HERE ) .

Campsie Branch Help with "Reinstate Jim Bollan" Petition in Alexandria...

Comrades from West Dunbartonshire, Campsie Branch and Glasgow turned out to support SSP Councillor Jim Bollan and help with a street stall. Jim has been suspended from West Dunbartonshire council for nine months for speaking out against the diminution of workers rights. More HERE and HERE

SSP Councillor Jim Bollan Suspended for defending Workers Rights...

Scottish Socialist Party Assistant National Secretary, Eddie Truman said, "You have to ask yourself what is so threatening about one man, one comrade, to them. It is because he dared to tell the truth."

Pamela Page, Campsie SSP and EC member said, "Jim is an inspiration. He is genuinely well loved and respected in Renton and the community work he is involved in is quietly revolutionary. Cooncil chiefs must explain to folk in the Carman centre why they have disenfranchised them. An abomination for democracy."

Suspended for speaking out for workers
By Jim Bollan
Jim Bollan has been suspended from West Dunbartonshire Council for 9 months

Free speech on West Dunbartonshire Council is a thing of the past if you try to protect Council worker's pay and conditions.... MORE HERE


Jim on his work as a Councillor and on the SSP:



Jim on the "Elected Dictatorship" HERE



Jim's Blog HERE

Repeat - SSP Councillor Jim Bollan on his work

Jim Bollan, the Scottish Socialist Party councillor in West Dunbartonshire council, discusses his work at a meeting in Kirkintilloch Leisure Centre. He also describes Cordale Housing Association - socialism in action.

Jim Bollan on Cordale Housing Association

Jim Bollan, leading a discussion on "How we take the councils" and sharing his experience in West Dunbartonshire Council as well as explaining the amazing community owned Cordale Housing Association. The video is just over 20 minutes long.

Council Workers Strike

Click on the photo of SSP councillor for Leven ward, Jim Bollan to read his views about the scandalous behaviour of the "Elected Dictatorship"

Click on the document below to read the Council Workers Voice:

Kirkintilloch Meeting

Jim Bollan will be leading a discussion on "How we take the councils" and sharing his experience in West Dunbartonshire Council as well as explaining the amazing community owned Cordale Housing Association in Kirkintilloch Leisure Centre this Saturday at 10.30am-12.30pm. All welcome. Please pass on to SSP members who would be interested in joining this discussion.

Campsie Branch meeting

This Saturday (9th August), 10.30am in Kirkintilloch Leisure Centre Conference Room.

Councillor Jim Bollan will be leading a discussion on his work in West Dunbartonshire Council.