Middle East
December 2004
On 9th July 2004 the International
Court of Justice ruled that Israel's separation barrier is illegal. With 209
other MPs, I have signed the following Early Day Motion, tabled by my colleague, Richard
Burden, welcoming the ICJ ruling and calling upon
the British Government to urge Israel to dismantle the barrier where built on occupied
land:
| EDM 308 ICJ'S RULING ON ISRAEL'S SEPARATION
BARRIER |
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That this House welcomes the Advisory Opinion of
the International Court of Justice on Israel's separation barrier (9th July 2004); notes
its conclusion that the barrier is illegal and that Israel has a legal obligation to
dismantle the barrier where it is built on occupied land; welcomes the UN General Assembly
resolution (20th July 2004) supported by 150 states that demands Israel comply with the
ICJ's advisory opinion; and calls upon the British Government to urge Israel to dismantle
the barrier where built on occupied land and to ensure Israel's full compliance with the
Fourth Geneva Convention in respect of the occupied territories. |
I have also called upon the UK Government to suspend the EU-Israel
Association Agreement (see below for more detail) on the grounds
that Israel is breaching the Human Rights obligations in the agreement in the light of the
ICJ judgement. I have asked a number of Parliamentary questions on this issue (see
right hand column for how to look these up).
June 2004
I have recently tabled the following two Early Day Motions:
EDM 1288 SUSPENSION OF THE EU-ISRAEL
ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT
26.05.04 Jones/Lynne
That this House supports
the recommendation of the International Development Select Committee's Second Report of
Session 2003-04 that Israel's preferential terms of trade with the EU should be suspended
until Israel lifts the movement restrictions placed on Palestinian trade; notes that the
EU-Israel Association Agreement is an extensive free trade agreement which includes the
liberalisation of goods and services, the free movement of capital, rules on competition,
economic and social co-operation, political dialogue and cultural co-operation and came
into force on 1st June 2000; further notes that Israel has long been in violation of the
aspect of the agreement which states that relations between the parties, as well as all
the provisions of the agreement itself, shall be based on respect for human rights in
relation to their internal and international policy; is concerned that Israel's
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian goods, its destruction of Palestinian
infrastructure and its total control of the Occupied Palestinian Territory's borders are
denying Palestinian exporters access to EU markets; recognises that EU exports to Israel,
which are greater in value than EU imports from Israel, might suffer retaliatory action;
but shares the view of the International Development Select Committee that the EU's
short-term economic self-interest with one trading partner should not take precedence over
a direct challenge to its trade policy in the region and its trade obligations to the
Palestinian Authority; and therefore urges the United Kingdom Government to propose the
suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement to the EU Council of Trade Ministers.
EDM 1080 FOOD AID TO PALESTINIAN
REFUGEES IN GAZA
28.04.04 Jones/Lynne
That this House notes
that the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) emergency food programme for the Gaza Strip,
where 80 per cent. of the population are refugees living below the poverty line, was
suspended on 1st April following restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities on moving
out empty food containers; notes that this caused UNRWA a bottleneck that prevented 11,000
tons of food from being delivered costing the Agency $13,000 in fees; is relieved that the
distribution of emergency food aid in Gaza recommenced on 21st April and that UNRWA has
enough food in Gaza to provide for the needs of refugees for the next 30 days; remains
deeply concerned however about UNRWA's statement that the future of the emergency food
programme remains in doubt because the Israeli authorities are insisting that holes be
drilled in the two-inch wall cavities of food containers leaving Gaza, to allow searching
by mini-camera but that these containers are not the property of UNRWA and such procedures
will add to the costs and cause delays in providing food assistance to the needy; is aware
of the statement on behalf of the Israeli Government that suicide bombers had used food
containers for hiding in but supports UNRWA's response that Israel's legitimate, and
serious, security concerns will not be served by hindering the emergency relief work of
the United Nations; and therefore calls on the United Kingdom Government to make urgent
representations to the Israeli Government and the US Administration to secure unhindered
movement of UN food supplies to Gaza.
For other Early Day Motions I have signed this Parliamentary
Session, please click here
October 2003: Many constituents have contacted me regarding the situation
in the Middle East. Information on the 'road map'; the wall; the attack on Syria;
trade policy; the rise of violence in 2002 and Palestinian education is given below.
Early Day Motions, Parliamentary Questions, and links are detailed
in the column opposite.
I utterly condemn the dreadful and shocking
suicide attacks perpetrated against Israeli citizens and the appalling collective
punishment inflicted on the Palestinian people. In my view, both sides share blame
and there are brave Israelis who oppose the violence and poverty imposed on the
Palestinians and brave Palestinians who oppose the suicide bombings. But if the cycle of
violence is to stop we need to look at where the balance of power lies. It lies with the
Israeli Government. And with the greater power, lies the greater responsibility. If
there is to be peace, the Israeli Government, must comply with international law and cease
illegal occupation of Palestinian land. The US Government has a
special responsibility in putting pressure on the Sharon Government as it bankrolls it to
the tune of $3billion per year (the estimate by the US Congressional Research Service
for 2003 is over $3.7 billion). Individuals can take small actions to put pressure
on the Israeli Government. For example, I am boycotting Israeli products as it is
not possible to tell if these are from the Occupied Territories (for more information see:
www.bigcampaign.org).
My view is that Israeli pre-emptive action
such as the demolition of Palestinian homes, the attack on Syria and the erection of a
'Berlin' style wall cutting into Palestinian territory, encourage rather than prevent
terrorism and retaliatory violence against innocent Israeli citizens.
The Israeli attack which killed Hamas Leader, Ismail
Abu Shanab on 12 August 2003 in retaliation for a relatively
minor breach of the ceasefire by splinter groups was the cause of the complete breakdown
of the ceasefire - which has raised such hopes for peace (see below under 'road map').
According to BBC reporters, Israel retaliated just as Hamas was about to denounce
the attack on Israel and send condolences to the victims. Imagine the effect on the
Peace Process in Northern Ireland if our Government had retaliated against Sinn Fein
because of terrorist acts committed by the Real IRA.
The 'road map'
The road map put forward in April 2003 by the quartet (the US, EU,
the UN, and Russia) - proposes a two state solution with a secure
Israel living side-by-side with a viable and separate state of Palestine. At first
this plan offered tentative renewed hopes, especially as on June 29 a
ceasefire was announced by Palestinian groups, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Yasser
Arafat's Fatah factions.
In a letter to me dated 8 September 2003, the
Minister responsible, Baroness Symons, set out the UK Government's position on the road
map:
"There is now a clear international consensus on what a negotiated settlement might
look like in line with the vision set out by President Bush in his speech of 24 June 2002.
The key elements will include an end to occupation, the exchange of "land for
pace" leading to a viable state of Palestine alongside the State of Israel, both
secure and respected within recognised boarders, as set out in UN Security Council
Resolutions 242, 338 and 1397. It should also build on Crown Prince Abdullah's
initiative, adopted by the Arab League in Beirut on 28 March, which offers full
normalisation of relations between the Arab States and Israel, in the context of a final
settlement.
"The path towards achieving this is the
Quartet (US, UN, EU and Russia) roadmap. The road map details the steps needed to
reach a final settlement on the basis of security for Israel and a viable Palestinian
state in 2005."
The Minister also commented that:
“We do no ignore outstanding UN obligations on Israel but press
for the implementation of all Security Council resolutions by all the parties”.
In response I have asked, why then, did the UK abstain rather than
support the UN motion condemning Israel for their threat to assassinate Yasser Arafat.
Baroness Symons replied that the UK did not vote for the proposed UN Security
Council Resolution on 16 September as they did not consider the text was sufficiently
balanced and the UK suggested amendments which were not accepted (I have asked the
Minister for details of the part of the text they are referring to and for details of the
UK’s suggested amendments). Baroness Symons went on to state that another
resolution on the situation of President Arafat was subsequently put to an Emergency
Special Session of the UN General Assembly, for which the UK voted.
'Alternative' peace plan, the 'Geneva Accords'
There have been reports in the press of an 'alternative' plan to the
road map being drawn up by 'influential representatives of civil society' from both
'sides' to be presented in Geneva in on 01 Dec 03. It is reported that Ariel Sharon
has denounced the plan. But he will not be leader forever and it is encouraging that
alternative plans are being drawn up, which may have currency at some time in the
future. In the meantime the plan will hopefully revitalise interest in finding a
solution.
Israeli Military attack on Syria, 05 October 2003
I have called for the UK to give an unequivocal condemnation of
Israel's attack on Syria (October 2003).
The wall
The Israeli Military offensive and occupation
of Palestinian land continues and I have joined the call for Israel to immediately
cease the building of its security "fence" deep within Palestinian territory,
which, when completed, will leave 45 to 55%. of the West Bank on Israel's side of the
wall. The wall, made up of reinforced cement, barbed wire, electrical fences,
trenches, electronic motion sensors, guard towers and security roads will cost $1 million
per kilometre. Its construction also violates articles 53 and 147 of the Fourth
Geneva Convention, to which Britain is a high-contracting party. The Convention
forbids the destruction of property and confinement of persons by an occupier. If
completed, the wall will incorporate approximately 91% of all West Bank settlements and
98% of its settlers annexing the richest agricultural land in the West Bank, including the
aquifer system which provides 52% of the West Bank's water resources. I have called
on the British Government to bring all available pressure to bear on Israel to cease
building this wall (September 2003). I have signed Early Day Motion 1689 CONSTRUCTION
OF SEPARATION WALL BY ISRAEL, see opposite column for link to EDM database to look up
text.
Trade policy
The Hansard record of my request for a debate on the suspension of the EU Israel
Association Agreement and the implementation of an arms embargo on Israel and Palestine -
25 April 2002 is reproduced below
Hansard record of question to Robin Cook, 25 April 2002
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): My right
hon. Friend mentioned the middle east earlier. He will be aware that the European
Parliament recently agreed a resolution calling for an arms embargo on Israel and
Palestine and the suspension of the EU-Israel euro-Mediterranean agreement if Israel
continues to refuse to comply with recent United Nations resolutions. Will my right hon.
Friend introduce a substantive motion in the House to enable hon. Members to express a
view on those and other important matters raised in the European Parliament's
comprehensive resolution?
Mr. Cook: Any decision on an embargo of the
EU-Israel Association Council falls to the European Union's General Affairs Council, not
the European Parliament. In fairness to the Government and the House, I remind my hon.
Friend that only the other day we provided a full day for debate on the middle east
crisis, which is an issue of the gravest concern to the Government. My right hon. Friend
the Foreign Secretary continues to be in close contact with people in the region and the
international community to make sure that we do all that we can to secure an end to the
violence and a return to the negotiating table and, in addition, to ensure that the
international community, particularly the UN Commission on Human Rights, has an
opportunity to examine the accusations of a breach of human rights during the occupation.
Arms trading: House of Commons Debate 16 April 2002
Ben Bradshaw MP, when he was Minister responsible for
this area of policy at the FCO announced in winding up the debate that the UK Government
has effectively imposed an arms embargo on Israel:
I wish to put it on record that our current policy is that we
will no longer take into account the Israeli assurances given to us in November 2000 that
they would not use UK-originated equipment in the occupied territories. Those assurances
have proved to be unsound. Nothing that could be used for internal repression or external
aggression will get an export licence. In the current circumstances, those criteria will
apply widely to military equipment destined for Israel.
However, I would like to see the UK Government go further and
impose a formal arms embargo and sanctions on Israel until it pulls out of the occupied
territories and stops the violence. I have previously called for the suspension of the
EU-Israel Association Agreement and I supported the call for this suspension
made by Christian Aid by tabling an EDM, see
column opposite. I have for some time been boycotting Israeli products.
2002: Dramatic rise in level of violence
The rise of violence in 2002 is discussed in an interesting article
in the Financial Times by Khalil Shikaki on 24 June 2002.
Another interesting article on this issue was published in the Independent on 09
July 2002, by Robert Fisk, please click here to read "A strange kind of
freedom".
April 2002 Statement drawn up by the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British
Understanding
I am a signatory to the following statement:
End the Israeli occupation now for a Palestinian State – April 2002
We, the undersigned, believe that the full-scale Israeli
offensive in the Occupied Territories must end immediately. Such acts of barbaric ferocity
have no place in civilized society, leading as they do to the total dismantlement of
Palestinian life, economy, society, and environment. We urge the British government and
the international community to use all necessary means to force the Israeli government to
end this carnage and adhere fully to human rights laws and the Fourth Geneva Conventions
leading to a final end to the occupation. The only winners from this situation are
extremists on both sides. Too many innocent Israelis and Palestinians have died whilst the
international community has done little or nothing.
The international community must actively engage to end these
atrocities in order to prevent this conflict escalating regionally. There needs to be an
immediate and permanent Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian towns,villages and refugee
camps, strengthened by the dispatch of a United Nations observation team reporting to the
Secretary-General of the United Nations. Such a team must be given complete and unhindered
access all over the Occupied Territories. There must be an immediate freeze on all
settlement expansion and full security co-operation together with negotiations on the
establishment of a fully independent Palestinian State.
International law and resolutions must form the basis for ending
the violence and bringing about a permanent end to this conflict. UN Security Council
Resolution 1397 envisages "a region where two states, Israel and Palestine, live side
by side within secure and recognized borders". We welcome the Saudi initiative which
was endorsed by the Arab Summit with Palestinian blessings. There must be an end once and
for all to the illegal and brutal Israeli occupation that has led to the oppression and
humiliation of over 3.5 million Palestinians including women and children for the last 35
years.
Quote: Noam Kuzal, Israeli reservist who refused to serve in the
Occupied Territories: "The occupation is corrupting us. The army is the country. The
more violent and racist the army acts in the occupied territories, the more violent and
racist Israelis act between themselves. We see violence as the solution to all problems.
We think all Arabs are terrorists".
Signed:
Lynne Jones MP, John Austin MP, Chairman, Council for the
Advancement of Arab-British Understanding (CAABU), Ernie Ross MP (Chairman, Labour Middle
East Council), Hon Nicholas Soames MP (Chairman, Conservative Middle East Council), Rt Hon
Menzies Campbell MP, (Chairman, Liberal Democrat Middle East Council), Richard Burden MP
(Chairmen of All-party Britain-Palestine Group), Sir Cyril Townsend (Director of CAABU).
To endorse the contents of this
letter or find out further information, please contact Chris Doyle (0207 373 8414) - doylec@caabu.org
May 2002: UN fact finding mission into events at Jenin blocked by Israel
The investigation of reported human rights abuses in the Occupied Territories is
being blocked. Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have indicated that
major human rights abuses tantamount to war crimes may have taken place there. Yet
Israel refused to allow a UN fact finding mission into Jenin. Details of their
concerns are outlined on their websites:
Amnesty
International Press Release 02.05.02: Israel/Occupied Territories: Security Council
must stick to its commitment to establish the truth
www.amnesty.org
Human Rights Watch Press
Release 03.05.02: Israel/Occupied Territories: Jenin War Crimes Investigation Needed
www.humanrightswatch.org
BBC News has more details on Israel's refusal to allow the UN fact-finding
mission:
Israel
blocks UN Jenin mission
UN
abandons Jenin Probe
BBC News
May 2002: Letter to the Prime Minister - impact of Israeli military incursions on
Palestinian education from constituents working on Department for International
Development Education Project.
My constituent, Lynn Davies has sent me a copy of a letter to the
Prime Minister, that he has signed along with other independent consultants who
worked on the DFID Education Project, managed by the British Council, in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip from 1996 – 2000. The letter outlines their concern about
the impact of recent actions by Israel on Palestinian education.
The Right Honourable Tony Blair MP, Prime Minister
The Prime Minister’s Office
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 2AA
14th May 2002
Dear Mr Blair,
We are writing this letter to express our concern about the impact of recent actions by
Israel on Palestinian education. We all worked as independent consultants on the DFID
Education Project, managed by the British Council, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip from
1996 – 2000. We are concerned especially by statements about a "return to
normality" following the Israeli withdrawal, as what is left cannot be regarded as
normal by conventional standards.
From 1994 - September 2000, the Palestinians developed their education service at all
levels, revising and updating a system that had been severely neglected during the
previous 27 years of Israeli occupation. The new Palestinian Authority was supported by
many international agencies, including the DFID, and succeeded in making enormous
improvements to their education system. By September 2000 the Palestinian Ministry of
Education was ready to introduce a new Palestinian curriculum, which they had prepared
with support from overseas aid. Within weeks, the siege, curfews and roadblocks imposed by
the Israeli Army on Palestinian cities, towns, villages and refugee camps seriously
disrupted the implementation process by making access to regular schooling extremely
difficult. Nevertheless, as a result of the creativity and determination of the officials
in the Ministry of Education and of teachers, a limited form of schooling was maintained.
The recent Israeli incursions into Palestinian territory meant that all this came to a
complete standstill, and schools were closed for nearly three weeks.
On two occasions in the last month, the Israeli army entered the Ministry of Education,
destroying the fabric, IT equipment and records, in a systematic attempt to annihilate the
infrastructure of the Palestinian Education System.
It is to the credit of the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Education that
schools were re-opened so quickly, for some teachers it is still too dangerous and often
quite impossible for them to reach their schools. Employees in the Ministry are trying to
pick up the pieces and teachers are doing their best to teach children who are traumatised
by the events of the last 18 months.
With almost half of the Palestinian population under the age of fifteen, education must
be regarded as a corner stone of Palestinian society. The long-term success of any peace
process will depend on the attitudes these children acquire during their formative years,
particularly in relation to future co-existence with Israelis. The Palestinian Authority
understood this very clearly, and by September 2000 had made the teaching of English to 6
year olds a priority in their efforts to facilitate links with the West.
The British Government has invested heavily in Palestinian Education, but this has all
now been virtually destroyed by recent Israeli actions. We note that a major reason you
gave for the British engagement in Afghanistan was to ensure that children there could
again begin to receive an adequate education. We would like to know what actions are
planned by the British Government to ensure that a full education programme can be
restored for all Palestinian children. For there is no doubt that effective education is
essential to underpin any long-term solution for peace in the area.
Yours sincerely,
Katrina Blythe, Cheshire Liz Thomson, Lincolnshire, also signed by:Lynn Davies,
Birmingham and 27 Others. |
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Other postings...
Middle East Crisis July 2006
Account of my deportation from Tel Aviv
airport July 2006
Links
Human rights organisations
Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Amnesty International
Amnesty International has
produced numerous documents on the situation on the Middle East, both condemning Israeli
Government's treatment of the Palestinian people and also condemning suicide bombings by
Palestinian individuals and members of Palestinian armed groups. For examples, see
below:
Click here
for an Amnesty International report "Without distinction - attacks on civilians by
Palestinian armed groups"
Click here
fore an Amnesty International press release "Palestinians suffer renewed collective
punishment"
Iraq
Parliamentary Questions...
I have tabled a number of Parliamentary
questions on the Middle East which can be viewed via the Parliament website
Early Day Motions...
I have tabled and signed a number of EDMs on the Middle East. Some
of these are detailed below. For the text of the motions listed below, or for an up
to date list of Motions I have supported, you can use the EDM Database
(tip: you need to search under the correct
Session, which you can select from the drop down menu on the top right hand corner).
Motions I have tabled
EDM 1288
(26.05.04 Session 03/04) SUSPENSION OF THE EU-ISRAEL ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT
EDM 1080 (28.04.04 Session 03/04) FOOD AID TO
PALESTINIAN REFUGEES IN GAZA
EDM 178 (21.11.02 Session 02/03)
INTERNATIONAL MONITORING AND CHILD DEATHS IN ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
EDM 1272 (09.05.02 Session 01/02)
PREVENTION OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE ON THE WEST BANK AND GAZA
EDM 1157 (18.04.02 Session 01/02)
SUSPENSION OF THE EU-ISRAEL ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT
Motions I have signed
Session 2003-2004
EDM 1239 ISRAELI DESTRUCTION
OF PALESTINIAN HOMES IN GAZA 19.05.04
EDM 1238 INTER-PARLIAMENTARY
UNION DELEGATION FROM PALESTINE 19.05.04
EDM 1223 GAZA 19.05.04
EDM 1045 STATEMENT BY MR
ARIEL SHARON ON MR YASSER ARAFAT 26.04.04
EDM 1023 VANUNU AND NUCLEAR
DISARMAMENT 21.04.04
EDM 1021 INVITATION TO VANUNU
21.04.04
EDM 1015 MORDECHAI VANUNU
(no.3) 21.04.04
EDM 1000 MORDECHAI VANUNU
(no.2) 20.04.04
EDM 991 IMPACT OF PRESIDENT
BUSH'S STATEMENT ON ISRAELI POLICY IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES 19.04.04
EDM 956 EXECUTION OF SHEIKH
AHMED YASSIN 31.03.04
EDM 442 LIBYA, IRAN, ISRAEL AND THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION
TREATY 15.01.04
EDM 407 ISRAEL'S SEPARATION WALL 13.01.04
EDM 392 MORDECHAI VANUNU
12.01.04
EDM 339 THREATENED DEMOLITION
OF BEIT ARABIYA PEACE HOUSE 05.01.04
EDM 123 COMBATTING
ANTI-SEMITISM 26.11.03
Session 2002-2003
EDM 1689 (15.09.03 Session 02/03) CONSTRUCTION OF SEPARATION WALL BY
ISRAEL
EDM 1449 (19.06.03
Session 02/03)
TOM HURNDALL
EDM 999 (02.04.03 Session 02/03) PUBLICATION OF ROADMAP FOR
PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
EDM 970 (26.03.03 Session 02/03) SHOOTING OF US
PEACE ACTIVIST IN NABLUS
EDM 969 (26.03.03 Session 02/03) INQUIRY INTO DEATH
OF RACHEL CORRIE
EDM 914 (18.03.03 Session 02/03) MORDECHAI VANUNU
AND THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
EDM 909 (18.03.03 Session 02/03) DEATH OF A UNITED
STATES PEACE ACTIVIST IN GAZA
EDM 785 (26.02.03 Session 02/03) MORDECHAI VANUNU
EDM 752 (24.02.03 Session 02/03) ACCESS TO
HEALTHCARE IN PALESTINE
EDM 636 (31.01.03 Session 02/03) "ISRAEL, POVERTY
AND THE PALESTINIANS" REPORT
EDM 610 (29.01.03 Session 02/03) WEST BANK
SEPARATION WALL
EDM 203 (26.11.02 Session 02/03) ILLEGAL ISRAELI
SETTLEMENTS
EDM 188 (25.11.02 Session 02/03) ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
EDM 124 (19.11.02 Session 02/03) TERRITORIAL
CONTINUITY IN THE WEST BANK
EDM 1691 (23.07.02 Session 01/02)
SWANSEA HEBREW CONGREGATION SYNAGOGUE
EDM 1595A1 (10.07.02 Session 01/02)
SUICIDE BOMBERS IN ISRAEL (AMENDMENT A1)
EDM 1223 (30.04.02 Session 01/02)
ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP |
