Lib Dems call for real action to help the people of Gaza (Forest of Dean Liberal Democrats)

Lib Dems call for real action to help the people of Gaza

March 8, 2009 12:40 PM
Originally published by UK Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrats criticise the inaction of the government to the crisis in Gaza and call for a series of measures to respond to the humanitarian crisis and prevent future conflict

A sombre debate took place this morning on the current situation in Gaza. The motion debated called for a series of measures to be taken by the UK government. These included a thorough investigation into allegations of war crimes in Gaza, the opening of border crossing, and an international effort to prevent the smuggling of arms into Gaza.

See the full text of the motion below

Conference notes:

i) The terrible loss of life and destruction of property and infrastructure that took place during Israel's attack on Gaza between December 2008 and February 2009, with hundreds of civilians and children killed.

ii) The indiscriminate firing of rockets by militants from Gaza at Israeli civilians that has terrorised the population in southern Israel and also killed civilians and destroyed property, which Israel claims justified their military attack.

iii) That both the European Union and the British Government declared that Israel's military action was disproportionate.

iv) Recent Amnesty International reports that have highlighted breaches of international law by both the Israeli Defence Force and Hamas.

v) The appalling state of the public infrastructure in Gaza following the long blockade, especially the sewage and water works, with the resulting threat of a major health epidemic such as a cholera outbreak.

vi) Existing party policy setting out comprehensive proposals for an alternative path to peace, as well as calling on the European Union to review whether Israel is in enduring breach of Article 2 (on human rights) of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

Conference believes that:

a) The root cause for the continuation of this cycle of violence is the failure to reach a comprehensive and final peace settlement based on the recognition of the legitimate rights of both Israelis and Palestinians, as well as the legitimate rights of Syria (part of whose sovereign territory is under Israeli occupation) and the recognition of the State of Israel by the member states of the Arab League;

b) A sustainable solution will only be reached in the context of two separate states, mutually recognised and internationally accepted, which are viable, peaceful, democratic and exist within borders which are secure and based on the situation before the 1967 conflict.

Conference approves the party leadership's call during the crisis for both sides to cease fire and for a suspension of British and EU arms sales to Israel as well as the suspension of the update to Israel's Association Agreement with the EU.

Conference therefore calls:

1. On the UK Government to propose to the United Nations Security Council an international tribunal with powers to prosecute and compel the appearance of suspects and witnesses to investigate whether war crimes have been committed by Israel, Hamas and any other parties during Israel's attack on Gaza, with the intention that there should be full accountability for any or all persons who ordered or executed such war crimes, including criminal penalties and the payment of reparations.

2. On all parties to agree a permanent ceasefire and an opening of the border crossings into Gaza, as the first step to negotiating a comprehensive and final peace settlement, with negotiations to take place on the basis of good faith, the principles of international law, all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and reference to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

3. For a new initiative by the British Government to work with the European Union and the United States to provide assistance to all parties to prevent arms smuggling into Gaza.

4. For Britain and the European Union to make it clear to Israel that the existing EU-Israel Association Agreement will now be suspended if Israel does not urgently lift the blockade of Gaza, including of construction materials essential for rebuilding Gaza's basic public infrastructure such as sewage and water works, schools and hospitals.

Forest of Dean Liberal Democrats