Annual Palestinian lobby of Parliament

The Palestinian lobby called for:

• A comprehensive embargo on arms trading with Israel
• Urgent action by the UK government to prevent the destruction of Palestinian life and culture in Jerusalem
• MPs to press for an end to the siege on Gaza and for international law to be upheld.

My MP, Paul Farrelly, was not available but I met his Parliamentary Researcher, Neil Watkins, and we had a useful conversation.

Paul had already signed an Early Day Motion concerning:

• The systematic attempts to reduce the Palestinian population of East Jerusalem and the Jerusalem periphery through the eviction of Palestinian families, demolition of Palestinian homes, expansion of Israeli settlements, removal of residency rights from many Palestinian families of Jerusalem and refusal of access to Jerusalem and its holy sites to most Muslim and Christian Palestinians from the West Bank, resulting in the gradual destruction of Palestinian life and culture.
• Support for the Government’s position of not recognising Israel’s unilateral annexation of East Jerusalem, of regarding Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem as contrary to international law and of refusing to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel until it becomes a shared capital for both nations, and
• Calls on the Government to take steps to ensure that the Israeli authorities respect the rights of Palestinians as well as Israeli citizens and the freedom of worship of all faiths in Jerusalem.

Having not taken part in a lobby before I was glad I did so. It increased my understanding of what contribution I can make towards achieving justice and peace for Palestinians and Israelis, Being active on their behalf keeps my hope alive.