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§ Hugh Bayley (City of York)Having just returned from the International Development Committee's visit to Palestine and Israel, I am acutely aware not only of the desperate plight of the Palestinian people, but of the fact that there is no monopoly of right or wrong on either side and that both sides must stop the violence before a peace settlement can be found.
Tonight, I present to the House the petition of the York group of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. The group opposes the Israeli Government's use of military 770 action against Palestinian civilians, notes that 2,500 Palestinians have been killed since September 2000, and calls for the indictment of the Prime Minister of Israel.
The petition, which is signed by Monica Wusteman of York and 575 supporters of the York Palestine Solidarity Campaign, states:
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons take steps to ensure that there is an end to the British government's arms trade with Israel and that trade sanctions are imposed until Israel ends its illegal occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and abides by international law and UN resolutions including the removal of illegal settlements, and implementation of the right to return of Palestinian refugees.
§ To lie upon the Table.