Pax Christi joins lobby of Parliament for Palestine

Houses of Parliament - pic ICN

Pax Christi members from Derby, Coventry, Southampton, St Albans and London took part in the Speaking Out for Palestine Lobby on 23 November at the House of Commons.

The purpose was to bring grass-roots concerns about Palestine to members of Parliament.

Two of the Pax Christi lobbyists were Ann Farr and Rosemary Read, both of whom have worked in Palestine as Ecumenical Accompaniers and brought their first-hand experiences to the discussion with their members of Parliament. Organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign the Lobby was also supported by Friends of Sabeel, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions UK and Jews for Justice for Palestinians.

The four main concerns raised within the members of Parliament were

1. The issues of UK/Israel links in the arms trade/sharing of military know-how, training and research. Israel is the 5th largest exporter of arms and has been leasing Hermes 450 drones to the UK for use in Afghanistan.

2. The recognition of Palestine as a member of the United Nations.

3. Protection of Jerusalem as the a place of worship for Christians, Muslims and Jews and protection of the rights of Palestinians to live and work in Jerusalem. Currently house demolitions are a daily part of life for Palestinians as the Israeli government continues with its programme of building illegal settlements.

4. The end of the siege of Gaza - and the legalising of imports and exports to and from Gaza as a way of re-building the infra-structure in the aftermath of Operation Cast Lead and re-establishing the economy.

Pax Christi will continue its solidarity work with peacemakers in Palestine-Israel in the week ahead as it co-hosts a visit of Father Johnny Abu Khalil, Parish priest of St Justin Church in Nablus in the Palestinian West Bank. Fr Johnny will be speaking in schools and parishes in Hertfordshire, North London and Nottingham.