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--- Begin Message --- From: "Chris Doyle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
GOVERNMENT URGED TO INTERVENE
TO STOP REVENGE ATTACKS
In the light of the dramatic escalation of violence over the last 24 hours,
Richard Burden MP, Chair of BPAPG (Britain Palestine All Party Group) has
called for an emergency debate in the House of Commons on the Middle East
crisis.
Mr Burden was speaking in Parliament today during questions to Leader of the
House Robin Cook and added,
'Since US Envoy General Zinni called for a 48 hour ceasefire we have seen
Israeli Gunship attacks kill six Palestinians in attacks at Khan Younis and
outside Hebron, followed by the deaths of ten Israelis in a terror attack on
a packed bus and now there are Israeli tanks back on the streets of Ramallah
near Yasser Arafat's offices. This cycle of violence and counter-violence
can only be ended if both sides take action.
It is vital that the UK government, now makes it clear to the Sharon
government that our condemnation of terror attacks against Israel by groups
like Hamas does not give Mr Sharon a green light to mount his own onslaught
against Palestinian civilian areas in violation of the Geneva Convention.'
Just over a month ago, Mr Burden was in the West Bank and Gaza as part of a
European Commission sponsored visit to promote dialogue between European
and Palestinian parliamentarians. During the visit, Mr Burden was the only
British politician to get into Bethlehem during the last Israeli military
invasion of the Palestinian town.
For 15 months the vicious circle of revenge has led to the death of 816
Palestinians and 242 Israelis. The British Government has made clear that
the Palestinian Authority must re-double it s efforts to clamp down on
groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Mr Sharon's latest actions however make
it imperative that we say with equal clarity that the Israeli Government
must withdraw its forces from Palestinian controlled areas, lift closures
and restrictions on the Palestinian people and put a freeze on settlements.
Of course the Palestinian Authority should do all it can to stop terrorist
attacks by Palestinians, but it is ludicrous to suggest that this can be
achieved by air attacks on Palestinian Police stations, assassinations or by
sending Israeli tanks into Palestinian towns.
Today's announcement by Mr Sharon that he is severing links with the
Palestinian Authority makes matters still worse and looks like a rather
blatant attempt to topple the President Arafat. Far from putting an end to
terrorism, that will only serve to escalate the cycle of violence.
It is time for the UK and the EU to be as blunt with Israel as it has been
with the Palestinians.
Ends
Chris Doyle
Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding
21 Collingham Road
London SW5 0NU
Tel: 020 7373 8414
Fax: 020 7835 2088
Mobile 07968 040 281
http://www.caabu.org
Please note my e-mail has changed to [EMAIL PROTECTED] - the old e-mail will
work for the time being.
The contents of this message may contain personal views which are not the
views of CAABU, unless specifically stated.
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FREEZE TERRORIST ASSETS!
STOP US AID TO ISRAEL!
Sign the petition letter online at:
http://al-awda.org/terminate_aid_petition.htm
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