Following on from the CLP executive meeting on 12th of May, the Thirsk and Malton Constituency Labour Party sent a letter to Lisa Nandy MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary.

Thirsk and Malton CLP Executive Committee voted unanimously last night (12th May 2021) to support the 7th May ‘Joint Statement: Stop the ethnic cleansing of Jerusalem – Save Sheikh Jarrah’ (attached) and to call on the Party to do the same. Perhaps you have done by now but we were extremely disappointed that our Party was not one of the original signatories. If the Party has not yet added its formal support to the Joint Statement we are asking you to do so as a matter of urgency. The appalling escalation of the conflict and casualties in Israel in the few days since the Joint Statement was launched makes immediate action by the Party imperative.  We cannot turn a blind eye to the blatant abuses of human rights being perpetrated by the State of Israel on Palestinians living in East Jerusalem and elsewhere in Israel in breach of international law.

‘This CLP notes that the United Nations has called on the Israeli Government to halt all forced evictions of Palestinians from East Jerusalem and has warned that, if they take place, the evictions in the Sheikh Jarrah case would violate Israel’s obligations under international law. We, therefore, support the 7th May ‘Joint Statement: Stop the Ethnic Cleansing of Jerusalem‘, which was initiated by Stop the War and has been signed by most major Trade Unions and which calls on the British Government to hold Israel accountable and take meaningful action to prevent the further ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Jerusalem. We call on the Party leadership to also support the Joint Statement.’

Best wishes,

Mick Johnston,
Secretary of Thirsk & Malton CLP

Update:

Lisa Nandy’s statement dated 12th May, in response to the escalating violence in Israel and Gaza can be viewed here.

“The escalation of violence in Jerusalem, Gaza and Israel is appalling. The Labour Party utterly condemns the attacks that have endangered civilian lives and resulted in Palestinian and Israeli casualties, including children. Communities here in the UK and around the world have been horrified by these scenes and are gravely concerned by the prospect of the situation deteriorating further”.

“There must be an immediate end to the rocket attacks and airstrikes that risk further civilian fatalities. With the coordinated support of the international community, Palestinian and Israeli leaders must work to urgently de-escalate tensions. Anything less is an abject failure of responsibility which will lead to further suffering”.

“Once this terrible violence has ended, we must ensure that the root causes of the conflict are recognised and addressed. International law must be adhered to. The eviction of Palestinians from their homes in occupied East Jerusalem has got to stop and all religious sites must be respected. At the same time, Britain and the international community must reinforce our commitment to a two-state solution.”