An annual lobby of parliament is held around the 29th November to mark the UN Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people.

We also held an Emergency Lobby for Gaza on 11 March 2009

 Report from the Emergency lobby on Gaza - MPs told to end the siege now

Over 300 people came to Westminster on 11 March to tell their MPs that action must be taken now by the British government to force Israel to end its abuses of humanitarian law, and its collective punishment of the 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza. A packed rally in the evening, organised jointly with Labour Friends of Palestine, heard testimonies from the MPs who had visited Gaza following Israel's assault - including Martin Linton, Richard Burden, Sarah Teather and Andy Slaughter.

A highlight of the meeting was the inspiring speech from Jamal El Khoudary, an independent MP from Gaza, who called on the international community to increase solidarity with Gaza. Sameh Habeeb, a photojournalist from Gaza, also talked of the horrific impact of Israel's bombing and invasion.

I would like to thank all those who participated - who lobbied their MPs and who and helped on the day as volunteers and stewards. Many members weren't able to come to the lobby but I am aware that you are lobbying your MP locally - please do send the PSC office their responses for our records. If you participated in the lobby and didn't hand in your feedback form, please do send it to the office.
 
And finally, we are committed to increasing the pressure on the British government - we have reproduced our postcards to be sent to your MPs - please order copies from the office to give to friends, family and colleagues.
 
Betty Hunter
General Secretary

Lobby Wednesday 19 November 2008

Called for justice for the Palestinians, this year we will be lobbying MPs on issues including: end Israeli occupation; ending the blockade of Gaza; Israeli settlements; Palestinian self-determination; EU-Israeli trade agreement.

Lobby 2007

The 2007 lobby of Parliament focused on End the Israeli Occupation: Peace for All.

Over 150 Members of Parliament were contacted on 28 November 2007 in the call for justice for the Palestinians. More than 500 people from all over Britain and all walks of life came to make their point to their representatives. The aim of the lobby was to change British Government policy, so that the our government would take every possible step to implement international law in support of Palestinian rights.

The lobby focused on the following issues:

Isolation

Our government must end the economic and political isolation of Gaza immediately. 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza are suffering a humanitarian disaster, with 87% of Gazans living below the poverty line.

International law

Our government must insist that Israel complies with international law and ends its continuing expansion of settlements on occupied Palestinian land. There are currently 500,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Illegal wall

Our government must respect the International Court of Justice advisory opinion regarding the illegal wall in the West Bank and Jerusalem and hold Israel to account. The route of the Wall is effectively annexing 10 per cent of the West Bank to Israel, leaving 49,400 Palestinians stranded between the Green Line and the wall.

Democratic principles

Our government must recognise those elected democratically by the Palestinian people and help to reconcile the differences between Fatah and Hamas. All illegally held political prisoners by both sides, especially children, must be released.

An end to 40 years of occupation and a just settlement is the only way to achieve peace for both Palestinians and Israelis.

This lobby was called by the following organisations:

The Enough Coalition Amicus; Amos Trust; Arab Labour Group; Arab Media Watch; Association of the Palestinian Community in the UK; Bakers’, Food and Allied Workers’ Union; Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group; Britain Palestine Twinning Network; British Committee for Universities of Palestine; British Muslim Initiative; Council for Arab-British Understanding; Communication Workers’ Union; Christian Peacemaker Teams UK; Freedom Clothing Project; Friends of Al-Aqsa; Friends of Birzeit University; Friends of the Earth; Friends of Sabeel UK; GMB; Green Party; General Union of Palestinian Students; Interpal; Iona Community; Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions UK; Jewish Socialists’ Group; Jews Against Zionism; Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods; Jews for Justice for Palestinians; Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine; Liberation; Medical Aid for Palestinians; Muslim Association of Britain; Muslim Council of Britain; Muslim Parliament of Great Britain; Muslim Public Affairs Committee; National Association of British Arabs; National Union of Mineworkers; 1990 Trust; NUS Black Students’ Campaign; Open Bethlehem; Palestine Solidarity Campaign; Palestinian Forum in Britain; Palestinian Return Centre; Pax Christi; Public and Commercial Services Union; Qattan Foundation; Quaker Peace and Social Witness; Scottish Episcopal Church’s Justice Peace and Creation Network; Scottish Friends of Palestine; Scottish Palestinian Forum; Stop the War Coalition; Trade Union Friends of Palestine; Transport and General Workers Union; Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association; UNISON; War on Want; Welfare Association; Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom UK Section; Zaytoun Ltd

PSC's statement on the lobby:

The Annapolis declaration stating that talks about final status issues will take place within one year rings hollow to the Palestinian people, after the experience of the Oslo Accords and the Roadmap. George Bush, Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas all called for peace, meanwhile the assault on Gaza’s 1.5 million people continues. The siege is creating a humanitarian disaster, with the destruction of the economy and the collapse of health and education services.

Betty Hunter, General Secretary of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign commented: ‘Before the Palestinians can start to feel hopeful that there will be an end to occupation they need to see new ‘facts on the ground’, starting with the immediate dismantling of the checkpoints and the apartheid wall, followed by the disbandment of all settlements. The British people are increasingly demanding that our government support the Palestinian people’s rights under international law.’

The exclusion from Annapolis of Hamas, who won the democratic elections in 2006, means that the Palestinians were not fully represented. Instead of promoting Palestinian unity, this negotiation process will only further undermine it. Our government must play its role in ensuring that the Palestinians’ rights are realised, if we are to have any hope that the new round of talks launched at Annapolis will achieve a lasting peace.

A PSC statement - Betty Hunter