Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East

@lfpme.bsky.social

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🌹🤝🇵🇸 Campaigning for Palestinian human rights, upholding international law, and a two-state solution. RT≠endorsement 📍www.lfpme.co.uk

LFPME welcomes yesterday's package of measures to tackle the unacceptable and illegal increase in settler activity across the West Bank. Settler violence is a tool used to dispossess Palestinians, seize land, expand settlements, and undermine the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. The UK Government has long acknowledged that illegal settlements are a major obstacle to peace and to a viable two-state solution; in the months since recognising the State of Palestine, Israel has accelerated settlements, obstructed humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza and expanded its war to destabilise the region. The government of Israel has made clear its total disregard for international law and multilateral efforts to secure peace and accountability. The UK must ensure that British companies, banks, investment funds, charities, and public institutions are not complicit in activities that sustain or benefit from illegal settlements. Anything less risks undermining both international law and the UK's commitment to uphold it. If the international community is serious about defending a rules-based international order, there must be clear legal, financial, and diplomatic consequences for those who support, enable, or profit from settlement expansion and the ongoing occupation. The government should not rule out further sanctions if necessary to protect the survival of a two-state solution which remains the only path to a sustainable peace.
Statement that reads: "Netanyahu’s announcement yesterday of an order to seize 70% of the Gaza strip is an act that violates the ceasefire agreed in October, breaks international law, and critically undermines any future for Palestinian statehood. Since the UK’s recognition of the State of Palestine, increasing settler activity and violence in the West Bank, including the E1 plan, has put the two-state solution at enormous risk. If Israel is allowed to expand its de-facto annexation to Gaza, we will be as far as ever from the possibility of peace. The UK government must increase the range of sanctions, and extend those already placed on violent settlers and extremist politicians, to stand up for the viability of the state it has recognised, and the rule of international law. Words of condemnation have so far done little to deter ongoing violations. We must now act to pressure Israeli authorities to adhere by the terms of the October ceasefire, protect international law, increase aid and humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and uphold accountability. This is the only way to preserve the viability of the State of Palestine and thus the two-state solution to which we are committed."
Statement that reads: LFPME welcomes the ceasefire agreed between Israel and Lebanon yesterday. We ask the international community to use every diplomatic channel to hold all parties to this agreement. Since the escalation of Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, more than 2,100 people have been killed and 2.1million displaced. Entire villages have been levelled in tactics that Israeli ministers themselves compare with the razing of Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza. This 10 day ceasefire must pave the way to further talks and peaceful negotiation. The ÂŁ5million in humanitarian relief provided by the UK government to Lebanon is welcome, and it must continue to make it clear to the Israeli government that violence targeting civilian infrastructure is completely unacceptable and in breach of international humanitarian law. We must continue to support the structures of international law and call for accountability of violations. No Palestinian, Lebanese or Israeli citizen is made safer by violent escalation.
Statement that reads: Unilateral military action by the USA and Israel, and retaliatory strikes by Iran, have set off a regional conflict, leading to mass instability and civilian casualties across the Middle East. We welcome the Prime Minister's commitment to refrain from further UK involvement without lawful justification, a viable plan and Parliamentary agreement. It remains crucial that we focus on de-escalation and negotiation with allies committed to peace, security and the rule of law. We must learn from history that military escalation leads only to long-term instability. The Iranian regime brutally repressed and murdered its own people, and the death of Ayatollah Khamenei will not be mourned. The United Nations Secretary General and our European allies have warned that this military action risks violating international law and have called for de-escalation and the resumption of diplomatic talks. It is crucial we work with them and our regional allies to prioritise peace and stability, not more violence. We urge the government to ensure that any further UK involvement does not breach international law or threaten the security of the UK and its citizens.
Picture of James Asser MP with the title "co-Chair: LFPME"
Statement that reads: *LFPME Statement on Gaza “Board of Peace”* Building a sustainable and lasting peace in Gaza must be led by existing international bodies and within existing frameworks of international law. The US President’s “Board of Peace”, which has been widely criticised by UN member states, is not a solution. It includes no Palestinian representation. In including Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for violations of international law, and whose government and ministers oppose a two-state solution, the Board has shown that it cannot be a vehicle of peace. Netanyahu’s government continues to undermine the UN, recently demolishing UNWRA buildings in East Jerusalem and de-registering international NGOs distributing humanitarian aid. A path forward must respect the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, a two-state solution, and prioritise alleviating the enormous suffering still present in Gaza. It must be rooted in international law and uphold the principles of equality and human rights. Trump’s “Board of Peace” undermines these goals and those working to achieve them. The UK government must redouble its efforts to work with our allies to achieve a genuine and lasting peace that involves representation from Israelis and Palestinians.
Image contains the full text of LFPME's statement. This mirrors the text in the thread of posts below this one.
Image contains the text of LFPME's statement, which is also contained in the thread of posts below
Text of statement by Foreign Secretary David Lammy. For more than a year, over a million Lebanese and Israeli civilians have been displaced from their homes, with many living under relentless rocket attacks. The announcement of a ceasefire agreement to end hostilities between Israel and Lebanese Hizballah offers hope. The UK was the first G7 country to call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese Hizballah in September and we have worked relentlessly since with our allies and partners to apply pressure to end this conflict since. We strongly urge all parties to use this agreement to open a pathway to a lasting peace. A long-term political settlement, consistent with UN Security Council resolution 1701, is the only way to restore security and stability for the Lebanese and Israeli people. The UK will continue to support UNIFIL's essential role in maintaining peace along the Blue Line and the Lebanese Armed Forces, as the only legitimate military force in Lebanon. The devastation from this conflict is appalling and the human suffering must be addressed. The UK has played a leading role in addressing the humanitarian situation in Lebanon, announcing ÂŁ15m in humanitarian support in autumn to provide essential medical supplies, emergency cash assistance, shelter and access to clean water. We will continue to play our part to support those in need. We must seize this moment. It must be a turning point that builds momentum towards a lasting peace across the Middle East. In Gaza, we need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all the hostages and an end to Israeli restrictions on aid. The intolerable suffering must end.
Image with full text of LFPME's statement. This is the same text that is included in the post thread.