Welcome, Tuesday 06 January 2009, 05:19

Lobby Your Local MPs and MEPs Your last chance to lobby your MP, download the National PSC Poster (pdf file, 191k) for more information. Many of our members have already been active in lobbying their MPs, we want to keep up the pressure. We are making a concerted effort to get as many people as possible to write to their local and Euro MPs on the issue of the illegal wall and sanctions against Israel. A group of us is meeting to see how we can co-ordinate our lobbying to change the EU Trade Agreement with Israel. Contact us if you want to take part in this. The following is information on how to find and contact your MP/MEP as well as a sample letter written by one of our members. There are also some interesting articles relating to this. Remember to go to the National PSC site for up to date information on The Wall Must Fall campaign. Sample letters from Dave Chappell and Helen Chessum to MPs and MEPs Gerald Kaufman's article in the Guardian Contact your MP, make them aware of the ICJ advisory opinion. Request that they raise the matter with Jack Straw regarding its findings and what steps our government plans to take. Find your MP on: http://www.parliament.uk/directories/directories.cfm Find your MEP: http://www.europarl.org.uk/uk_meps/MembersMain.htm Prime Minister: Tony Blair Fax: 020 7925 0918 Email via: http://www.number-10.gov.uk Foreign Office: Jack Straw Tel: 020 7008 1500 fax: 020 7270 2144 Middle East Peace Section: 020 7008 2462 Palestine Desk: 020 7008 3796 Email: http://www.fco.gov.uk The national PSC also has the following material. Call or email the office to order on 020 7700 6192; info@palestinecampaign.org Wall Must Fall Stickers and Badge Stop The Wall T-Shirts Petitions Anti Apartheid Wall Campaign Book Sample Letters Dave's Letter Dear Ben, Following on from our meeting on 4th June to discuss the crisis in Palestine, thank you for your letter dated 23rd June (which for some reason I only received the 7th July). I can unfortunately confirm that I have still received no letter from Jack Straw. In the meantime though, I was interested to read in Monday's (12th July) Guardian newspaper an article from Labour MP Gerald Kaufman. I append the text of the article below in case you haven't already seen it; it can also be found online at http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1259087,00.html Gerald Kaufman states that "Economic sanctions and an arms ban against Israel are the only way of breaking the impasse". I could not agree more with him, also that the current Israeli Government "...could not recognise a moral duty if hit in the face by one..." and that sterner measures MUST be applied by other countries to force change. I imagine that in Government circles some of Gerald Kaufman's language might not be considered diplomatic enough, but from my point of view it is refreshing to hear a politician being prepared to criticise openly, where criticism is due. The political arguments for doing so reach far out from protecting Palestinians themselves from death and suffering, to enhancing the security of all peoples. This is because the 'Palestinian question' is a focal point for a sense of injustice and resentment in the Arab world seen to be perpetrated with the active support or connivance of Western Governments. I would be grateful if you would give further thought to this matter, particularly to the idea of the British Government seeking urgent sanctions under the EU-Israeli association trade agreement, and reply to me as soon as possible with any comments or suggestions on advancing this debate. Thanks and regards, Dave Chappell Helen's Letter July 20th 2004 Dear Mr Chichester, I am writing to you regarding the recent International Court of Justice ruling in the Hague about the illegality of the Israeli separation Wall. As the Israeli government is clearly in breach of many humanitarian codes of conduct relating to their role as occupiers in Palestine, not to mention numerous UN resolutions, I would urge you to do everything in your power to suspend the EU trade agreement with Israel until full compliance with human rights issues for the Palestinians and all UN resolutions has been achieved. To this end I would also like to see a campaign for sanctions against the current Israeli administration, as called for unequivocally by Gerald Kaufman in his recent Guardian article (http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1259087,00.html) Peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis can only come through talks leading to a negotiated settlement. The whole region will benefit from an end to this long-running conflict. I would be very interested to hear your comments on this matter. I would also be grateful if you could recommend any further action I can take to bring pressure to bear on the relevant authorities, groups or committees within the EU. Yours sincerely   Contact Webmeister: fuad@exeterpsc.org.uk All text and graphics © Exeter PSC 2003-7, and/or their respective owners.