Michael Rowe: The powerful victory of the yellow ribbon

Michael Rowe is the Chair of the Young National Jewish Assembly, Conservative Party activist and former Conservative Parliamentary staffer. He currently works in defamation and libel law.

As conference season draws to a close for another year it is time for the boxes of merchandise to return to their cupboards and for the jacket lapels of politicos to look bare once more. After all, as one Conference goer said to me this year: “There are so many organisations represented here that I support, and I can’t wear all their badges at once, so I alternate each day!”

This week I found myself looking through my somewhat interesting collection of political badges; I was struck by the way that they seem to perfectly tell the story of our politics throughout the last whirlwind of a decade. From Vote Leave to Chuck Chequers, Ready for Rishi and Join Jenrick (yes, I know that I have given away my political leanings!), each of these seem both era defining and almost ancient history in their own right.

I then looked down at my own lapel and was reminded of the relative insignificance of all of these campaigns, however vital they seemed at the time. The badge which I was wearing – one I have been wearing for the last two years – needed no words or slogans. Simple in design, this yellow ribbon put everything else into perspective. The basic desire of kidnapped people to be free, for the Israeli hostages to be released from the shackles of terrorist-laden dungeons to once again feel their family’s embrace.

It was heartwarming to see so many at Conference join me in showing their support for this most humane of campaigns. The yellow ribbons, simple yet powerful, reminded me that despite all of the noise, the silent majority can be counted upon.

With all of the campaigns which my badge collection reminded me of, I hope that this one will soon be able to be consigned to the history books, never forgotten but no longer needed.

The news of the hostages release is deeply encouraging, but let us not forget the great harm which has been done over the past two years. The former hostages will still need our help, our encouragement and our support. Having not seen daylight for the past two years, kept in the most unimaginable of conditions, the hostages will not have an easy time adjusting back to some form of normality. Many will be physically ill, all will be mentally scarred, but they will get through this with the right support, with the embrace of all who know what is just.

The other quiet success of recent events is the global coalition, specifically of Arab countries, which has been formed. The Abraham Accord countries have been willing to break the mould of conflict, giving us hope that lasting peace is achievable. However, in order for this to happen the rogue actor orchestrating much of the conflict we see today has to be isolated on the global stage. Iran, the head of a global network of terror whose reach spreads across the region, must no longer be allowed to cause misery for millions.

As part of the IDF’s heroic actions defending Israel’s security, they have managed to cut off many of Iran’s proxies, from Hezbollah, the Houthis and the Assad regime, leaving the Iranian regime further isolated in its quest to wipe Israel off the map.

If the last two years have shown us anything, it is the unrelenting spirit which the Israeli people have; never for one moment forgetting the hostages, supporting their brave soldiers and uniting behind the unrelenting military campaigns to defeat those who seek their annihilation. Peace should be the objective of all. Co-existence is possible but it takes political will and a genuine desire of ordinary people to respect those who are different to themselves. This marks a turning point in that journey but it is just the start of a long road ahead.

It is my deep desire that by next year’s Conference, the boxes of yellow ribbon pin badges can stay in the storage cupboards, gathering dust never to be needed again. It will be a long road ahead but we must be grateful for the jubilant scenes which we can now expect whilst remembering that this campaign is far from over. The former hostages still need our support and will do for a long time to come. Don’t add this badge to your collection just yet.