Parliamentarians rally behind the Palestinians in response to the letter from Eric Pickles and others

Sir, The signatories of the letter “Israel ‘under siege’ ” (Oct 14) are correct to lament the escalating violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, which is a tragedy both for Palestinians and Israelis. However, it is myopic not to mention the almost 50-year-long occupation of Palestine by Israel, its relentless expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank and the iniquity of the Israeli army providing security for illegal settlers but not the Palestinians. There is also no evidence to support the claim that the Palestinian Authority is inciting the violence — indeed, quite the opposite.

 

Sadly, as the Palestinian statesman Hanan Ashrawi stated more than ten years ago, the Palestinians are the only people on earth asked to guarantee the security of their occupier. Until the Palestinians are freed from the injustice and degradation of occupation, with a viable and truly sovereign state that guarantees the human rights of its population, this conflict will continue.

 

Baroness Morris of Bolton

Lord Cope of Berkeley

Lord Lamont of Lerwick

Sir Nicholas Soames MP

Sir Alan Duncan MP

 

Nicholas has co-signed the letter in his capacity as the President of the Conservative Middle East Council (CMEC).