Green MP objects to PSC logo
Green MP Caroline Lucas challenges PSC on pre-Israel map
By Martin Bright
Jewish Chronicle
23.06.11
The leader of the Green Party has written to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign questioning why the organisation uses as its logo a provocative map of Palestine prior to the creation of Israel.
Caroline Lucas, Parliament’s first Green MP, is a prominent supporter of the Palestinian cause and has visited the Palestinian territories on several occasions.
The Green Party has close links with the PSC at grassroots level and members often work together on individual campaigns.
Her party’s manifesto in the 2010 election said Israel should be obliged to “end the siege of Gaza, stop settlement expansion and commit to ending the occupation”. In 2008, the Greens voted to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. But the Green leader has always made it clear that the policy is not intended as an attack on Israel’s right to exist.
A statement issued by her office said: “It has been brought to my attention that the PSC logo appears to reflect 1917, pre-creation of Israel, borders and as such could be open to interpretation by some as implying non-recognition of Israel’s right to exist. I am following this up with the director of the PSC since I am quite sure that PSC does indeed recognise Israel’s right to exist, and it is unhelpful and damaging if any other impression is given.”