JJP lobbies Labour Party Shadow Minister for the Middle East

On 12 May, JJP lobbied the Labour Party Shadow Minister for the Middle East, Bambos Charalambous. We sought assurances on two thing. The first was that Labour would support the Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran’s private members bill seeking recognition of the State of

Palestine. The second was that a Labour Government would not be bound by the Conservative Government’s shameful “policy paper”, “2030 roadmap for UK-Israel bilateral relations “.

Our letter to the Shadow Minister is below:

Bambos Charalambous  MP                                                                                     12 May 2023

Shadow Minster for the Middle East

Dear Mr. Charalambous,.

We are writing to request a meeting to discuss two current issues affecting the United Kingdom’s polices towards the Israeli occupation and Palestinian rights. .

Firstly, we urge the Labour Party to support Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran’s Private Members Bill mandating recognition of the State of Palestine. We understand that the Party intends to support it.

Secondly, we want to discuss the present Conservative Government’s shameful “policy paper”, “2030 roadmap for UK-Israel bilateral relations “. The paper completely ignores the occupation, the settlements, and the suppression of Palestinian rights. It treats serious criticism of Israeli policies as “disproportionate” or proof of antisemitism. Its only reference to Palestine or Palestinians is this single sentence: “We will cooperate in improving Palestinian livelihoods and Palestinian economic development.”

We are seeking an assurance that a Labour Government would continue to uphold UK policies of acknowledging that settlements are illegal, discouraging trade with them, working to end the occupation and supporting Security Council resolutions which hold Israel to account for breaking international law.

We hope to hear from you shortly to arrange a meeting.

Yours sincerely,

Arthur Goodman, Diplomatic and Parliamentary Officer