US Corporations cancel meeting in Glasgow over Gaza support

In a derogatory anti-Muslim letter to the Glasgow City Council, a purported representative of major US corporations has cancelled a planned meeting of business leaders in the Scottish city because of its decision to fly the Palestinian flag.

The Glasgow City Council sparked criticism from pro-Israeli circles when it decided to raise the Palestinian flag in the wake of the ongoing conflict between the Israeli regime and the Palestinians in the impoverished Gaza.

Richard Cassini, the purported “vice president of a leading Fortune 500 company” that had organized a delegation of 600 American CEOs and business leaders in a planned event in Glasgow, wrote in an e-mail, “Having read your statement endorsing Hamas and its leadership due to the number of Muslims in your city, I have decided to cancel all plans for our trip.”

Cassini was referring to a statement of support for people of Gaza written by Glasgow’s Lord Provost (mayor) Sadie Docherty to her counterpart in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

“In solidarity with Bethlehem and Palestine, Glasgow City Council will raise the Palestinian flag on Friday 8th August,” read the statement. “We hope that peace can be found to ensure the human rights for the people of Palestine.”

According to UK-based press reports, those who were due to visit Glasgow represented major US corporations such as Walmart, ExxonMobil and Coca Cola.

In a letter to the Mayor of Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied territories, Docherty had offered her “heartfelt sympathy” to the people of Gaza.

“Glasgow is home to many friends of Palestine and this is a deeply distressing time for them. They represent a variety of ethnicities, political persuasions, faiths and none. However, they are united by a common desire to support the Palestinian people,” she said.

Meanwhile, Cassini insisted his decision to abandon the trip to Glasgow would not be reversed.