Scotland's leader resigns after conflicts over climate change, gender identity weakened government

LONDON (AP) — Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, resigned on Monday, triggering a leadership contest as the governing Scottish National Party seeks to heal internal divisions and strengthen its position ahead of U.K.-wide parliamentary elections expected later this year.

Yousaf, whose pro-independence party has been weakened by a campaign finance scandal and divisions over transgender rights, was brought down by his decision to oust the Green Party from his governing coalition because of differences over climate change goals. He was unable to persuade other parties to back his minority government in Scotland's regional parliament.

With no prospect of victory in two confidence votes that had been scheduled for later this week, Yousaf quit rather than be forced out. He will remain first minister while the SNP tries to choose a successor who can command a majority in parliament.

"I’ve concluded that repairing our relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm,'' Yousaf told reporters in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital.

The debacle adds to the fevered political climate in the United Kingdom, with the country preparing for parliamentary elections at a time when concerns about immigration, health care and government spending have undermined support for the governing Conservative Party.

The Conservatives and the opposition Labour Party had proposed separate no-confidence motions in Yousaf and his government amid efforts to weaken the SNP going into the general election. The SNP has been the dominant party in Scottish politics for almost two decades and currently holds 43 of Scotland's 59 seats in the U.K. Parliament. Labour is likely to be the biggest beneficiary of the problems in the SNP because both parties share left-leaning policies.

On Thursday, England and Wales will hold local elections that are seen as a barometer of support for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government.

But the SNP's focus will be on selecting a leader who can repair the party's image in Scotland and attract support from at least one opposition party in the regional parliament, where it is one seat short of a majority with 63 of the 128 voting seats.

That job appeared to be within reach Monday, as the Greens said they would be willing to work with the SNP now that Yousaf is out of the picture.

“The SNP is still the largest party in Parliament by some distance, and has the right to form a minority government,'' the Greens' co-leader, Patrick Harvey, said. “The Scottish Greens have a long track record of working constructively from opposition and will do so with any first minister who shares our progressive values and who can secure our confidence.''

One of the early favorites to replace Yousaf is former deputy first minister John Swinney, who said he was giving “very careful consideration” to seeking the top job. Another leading candidate is Kate Forbes, who narrowly lost to Yousaf in the last leadership contest. She is seen as unacceptable to the Greens because of her conservative religious views and opposition to gender identity reforms.

Whoever the SNP chooses, the new party leader will face the same tight electoral arithmetic that proved Yousaf's undoing.

With all of the other parties lined up against him, Yousaf would have had to make a deal with the breakaway Alba Party, which holds just one seat, to secure his job.

Founded in 2021 by former SNP leader and first minister Alex Salmond, Alba sees itself as the true voice of Scottish independence. As the price of its support, Alba demanded that Yousaf put independence at the top of his agenda, move away from divisive “identity politics” and focus on issues such as jobs, education and investment in Scottish industry.

That proved a step too far for Yousaf.

“While a route through this week’s motion of no confidence was absolutely possible, I am not willing to trade my values and principles or do deals with whomever simply for retaining power,” he said.

Yousaf became the leader of the SNP and first minister of Scotland in March 2023 after former leader Nicola Sturgeon stepped down and cited the toll of more than eight years in office.

Support for the SNP in part declined after the party backed legislation to make it easier for people to change their gender and implemented a hate crime law that made transgender identity a protected characteristic, even though the same protections weren’t given to all women.

Then came Yousaf’s decision to scrap Scotland's goal of reducing carbon emissions by 75% by 2030.

Although he said Scotland would still achieve its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, the decision sparked tensions with coalition partners. The Green Party initially backed the change, but party leaders said they would poll the broader membership and reverse course if necessary.

Last week, Yousaf abruptly ended a power-sharing agreement with the Greens, embarrassing the party's two government ministers who had arrived for a Cabinet meeting. Although Yousaf on Monday acknowledged his mistake, it was too late to repair the damage.

“Hurt egos have destroyed countries before now, so it’s not exactly surprising that they are currently leading to the mess we’re in,’’ Murray Pittock, an expert on Scottish nationalism at the University of Glasgow, told The Associated Press. “And you can’t hurt people’s egos any more than by chucking them straight out of ministerial office with no warning, and their entire party with them.”

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Scotland First Minister Humza Yousaf leaves Bute House, Edinburgh, Scotland, the official residence of the First Minister, after he announced that he will resign as SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister, Monday April 29, 2024. Yousaf, has resigned rather than face a no-confidence vote just days after he torpedoed a coalition with the Green Party by ditching a target for fighting climate change. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

FILE - Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf speaks during First Minster's Questions (FMQ's) at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh, April 25, 2024. Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, has resigned on Monday, April 29, 2024, rather than face a no-confidence vote just days after he torpedoed a coalition with the Green Party by ditching a target for fighting climate change. (Lesley Martin/PA via AP, File)

FILE - Scotland's first minister and Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Humza Yousaf arrives at St Giles' Cathedral to attend the National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication for Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and the presentation of the Honours of Scotland, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Wednesday July 5, 2023. Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, has resigned on Monday, April 29, 2024, rather than face a no-confidence vote just days after he torpedoed a coalition with the Green Party by ditching a target for fighting climate change. (Paul Ellis/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf speaks to the media during a visit to the Hillcrest Homes housing development, to make an announcement about investment in affordable housing, in Dundee, Scotland, Friday April 26, 2024. Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, has resigned rather than face a no-confidence vote just days after he torpedoed a coalition with the Green Party by ditching a target for fighting climate change. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

FILE - Britain's King Charles III, right, receives Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf during an audience at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Tuesday, July 4, 2023, part of the first Holyrood Week since his coronation. Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, has resigned on Monday, April 29, 2024, rather than face a no-confidence vote just days after he torpedoed a coalition with the Green Party by ditching a target for fighting climate change.(Andrew Milligan/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf, poses for a photo, at Bute House in Edinburgh, ahead of the SNP National Conference, Oct. 12, 2023. Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, has resigned on Monday, April 29, 2024, rather than face a no-confidence vote just days after he torpedoed a coalition with the Green Party by ditching a target for fighting climate change. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP, File)

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf arrives for a press conference at Bute House, his official residence in Edinburgh, Monday April 29, 2024. Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, has resigned rather than face a no-confidence vote just days after he torpedoed a coalition with the Green Party by ditching a target for fighting climate change. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

FILE - Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf delivers a speech on the Scottish economy and independence, at the University of Glasgow, in Glasgow, Scotland, Jan. 8, 2024. Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, has resigned on Monday, April 29, 2024, rather than face a no-confidence vote just days after he torpedoed a coalition with the Green Party by ditching a target for fighting climate change. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP, File)

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf pauses as he speaks during a press conference at Bute House, his official residence in Edinburgh, Monday April 29, 2024. Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, has resigned rather than face a no-confidence vote just days after he torpedoed a coalition with the Green Party by ditching a target for fighting climate change. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

FILE - The then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, center, and Scottish Green Party co-leaders Patrick Harvie, left, and Lorna Slater at Bute House, Edinburgh, Scotland, after the finalisation of an agreement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens to share power in Scotland. Scotland’s leader Humza Yousaf is facing a week of high-stakes talks to save his job and reenergize the country’s independence movement after he torpedoed a coalition with the Green Party by ditching a target for fighting climate change. (Jeff J Mitchell/PA via AP, File)

FILE - Scottish Green party co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie at Holyrood, in Edinburgh, after First Minister Humza Yousaf called an emergency meeting of the Scottish cabinet, in Edinburgh, Scotland, April 25, 2024. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP, File)

FILE - Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf speaks during a press conference at Bute House, Edinburgh, April 25, 2024. Scotland’s leader is facing a week of high-stakes talks to save his job and reenergize the country’s independence movement after he torpedoed a coalition with the Green Party by ditching a target for fighting climate change. (Jeff J Mitchell/PA via AP, File)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Israel told the United Nations’ top court on Friday that a case brought by South Africa about its military operation in Gaza “makes a mockery of the heinous charge of genocide.”

The International Court of Justice is holding a third round of hearings on emergency measures requested by South Africa, which wants the court, based in The Hague in the Netherlands, to order a cease-fire in the enclave.

The allegations were “completely divorced from the facts and circumstances,” Israel’s deputy attorney general Gilad Noam told a panel of 15 international judges.

South Africa told the court on Thursday that the situation in Gaza has reached “a new and horrific stage” and urged judges to order Israel to halt its military operations. Israel must “totally and unconditionally withdraw” from the Gaza Strip, said Vusimuzi Madonsela, South Africa’s ambassador to the Netherlands.

Israel has strongly denied committing genocide in Gaza, saying it does all it can to spare civilians and is only targeting Hamas militants.

“We do not wish harm to these civilians as Hamas does,” Noam said, accusing the organization of using human shields.

South Africa has submitted four requests for the ICJ to investigate Israel. According to the latest request, the country says Israel's military incursion in Rafah threatens the “very survival of Palestinians in Gaza.”

In January, judges ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza, but the panel stopped short of ordering an end to the military offensive.

The court has already found that there is a “real and imminent risk” to the Palestinian people in Gaza by Israel’s military operations.

ICJ judges have broad powers to order a cease-fire and other measures, though the court doesn't have its own enforcement apparatus. A 2022 order by the court demanding that Russia halt its full-scale invasion of Ukraine has so far gone unheeded.

Most of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people have been displaced since fighting began.

The war began with a Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which Palestinian militants killed around 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages. More than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, Gaza’s Health Ministry says, without distinguishing between civilians and combatants in its count.

South Africa initiated proceedings in December 2023 and sees the legal campaign as rooted in issues central to its identity. Its governing party, the African National Congress, has long compared Israel’s policies in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to its own history under the apartheid regime of white minority rule, which restricted most Blacks to “homelands.” Apartheid ended in 1994.

Follow AP's coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Israel's agents Gilad Naom, left, Tamar Kaplan Tourgeman, center, and co-agent Avigail Frisch Ben Avraham, right, wait for the start of hearings at the International Court of Justice, in The Hague, Netherlands, Thursday, May 16, 2024. The U.N.'s top court opened two days of hearings in a case brought by South Africa to see whether Israel needs to take additional measures to alleviate the suffering in war-ravaged Gaza. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

The Peace Palace office of the International Court of Justice, or World Court, is pictured through a fence in The Hague, Netherlands, Thursday, May 16, 2024. The U.N.'s top court opened two days of hearings in a case brought by South Africa to see whether Israel needs to take additional measures to alleviate the suffering in war-ravaged Gaza. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

The Peace Palace, office of the International Court of Justice, or World Court, is pictured through a fence in The Hague, Netherlands, Thursday, May 16, 2024. The U.N.'s top court opened two days of hearings in a case brought by South Africa to see whether Israel needs to take additional measures to alleviate the suffering in war-ravaged Gaza. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Judges enter the International Court of Justice, in The Hague, Netherlands, Thursday, May 16, 2024. The U.N.'s top court opened two days of hearings in a case brought by South Africa to see whether Israel needs to take additional measures to alleviate the suffering in war-ravaged Gaza. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Front row from left, South Africa's agents Cornelius Scholtz, Vusimuzi Madonsela and Israel's agents Gilad Naom, Tamar Kaplan Tourgeman and co-agent Avigail Frisch Ben Avraham wait for the start of hearings at the International Court of Justice, in The Hague, Netherlands, Thursday, May 16, 2024. The U.N.'s top court opened two days of hearings in a case brought by South Africa to see whether Israel needs to take additional measures to alleviate the suffering in war-ravaged Gaza. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)