JJP lobbies the new Foreign Secretary
On 15 July 2024 JJP wrote to the new Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, asking the government to recognise the State of Palestine, withdraw the previous government’s intervention with the International Criminal Court, and reinstate UNRWA funding. Those three actions would be a clear message to this Israeli government and to Israel’s political establishment that Israel cannot continue indefinitely to flout international law and mankind’s norms of decent behaviour.
Our letter is below
15 July 2024
David Lammy MP
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Dear Secretary of State,
We are writing to you about three actions regarding Palestinian rights that we believe the new Labour Government should take quickly.
First, the government should recognise the State of Palestine.
The Palestinian people have a right to recognition of their state in the small part of Palestine that the international community has allocated to them by the cumulative effect of the crucial Security Council resolutions and the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on the Separation Wall. It is their right in international law. That 22% of British Mandate Palestine is little enough.
Conversely, the 78% of British Mandate Palestine that is Israel should be enough for any reasonable Israeli government. They have no right to more in either common justice or international law.
Among Western European countries, Norway, Ireland and Spain have recently recognised Palestine. Sweden recognised 10 years ago. Among. Eastern European countries, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia recognised in 1988. In total, 143 UN member states recognise. Most important, the UN recognised Palestine as a “Non-Member Observer State” in 2012.
Second, the government should withdraw the previous government’s intervention with the International Criminal Court in Israel’s favour.
In May, the previous government sought permission from the Court to intervene against the Chief Prosecutor’s application for arrest warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister and Secretary of Defence. The government argued that the Oslo accords in 1993-1995, between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, preclude Palestine from prosecuting Israelis.
The argument is without merit. The Oslo Accords was an agreement between the two parties as to how the occupation would be regulated for five years, when agreement on ending it was anticipated to be reached. That the anticipated agreement was never reached does not confer impunity on Israel for an assault on Gaza that breaches international humanitarian law.
Israel had the right to attack Hamas paramilitary units in response to the horrendous Hamas attack on Israeli civilians and in order to deter further potential attacks on its civilians. However, it does not have the right to flout international humanitarian law in its response.
Third, the government should reinstate UK funding to UNRWA.
Israel’s claim that UNRWA was harbouring members of Hamas was found to be without merit by the French and UN investigations. In any case, the Israeli claim involved only nine out of UNRWA’s 13,000 employees in Gaza.
The EU, Germany, Canada, Australia, Sweden, France, The Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Finland, Iceland, Rumania, Estonia, Japan and Switzerland have already reinstated their funding. The UK should do the same.
The UK is a leading country in the international system. Recognition of the State of Palestine, withdrawal of the previous government’s intervention with the ICC, and reinstatement of UNRWA funding would be a clear message to this Israeli government and to Israel’s political establishment that Israel cannot continue indefinitely to flout international law and mankind’s norms of decent behaviour.
Withdrawal of the intervention and reinstatement of the withheld funding would also serve to restore the UK’ reputation for respecting international law which the previous government tarnished.
Yours sincerely,
Arthur Goodman
Parliamentary and Diplomatic Officer