British Parliamentarians call for imposing sanctions on Israel
Israel-UK, Politics, 2/6/2004

British parliamentarians announced yesterday that malnutrition in Gaza and the West Bank reached a worse situation similar to that in the countries of southern African desert because the Palestinian economy collapsed under the imposed restrictions by Israel. They called for imposing economic sanctions on Israel.

A report prepared by the international development committee which includes members from all parties called on the British government to urge the European Union to impose trade sanctions on Israel.

In 2003, the World Bank said that the Palestinian economy is in drastic deterioration after the Israeli occupation army imposed a siege on the Palestinian cities.

The report said that malnutrition rates in Gaza and the West Bank are similar to those " in any place in the African states, to the south of the desert." The report added they "have not yet reached the extent of dying of hunger É but suffer malnutrition."

It added " therefore we call on the government of the United Kingdom to propose the cabinet of the EU ministers of trade to suspend the beneficiary conditions Israel enjoys in its trade with the European Union, until it lifts sanctions it had imposed on the Palestinian trade." The Parliamentrians criticized the seperation wall that is under construction by Israel in the West Bank.

The report of the committee said that the "Palestinian economy has completely collapsed and unemployment rate ranges between 60 and 70 % and many of those who occupy posts rely on non- governmental organizations or international relief commissions for their employment.

A spokeswoman for the British International Development Ministry said that the government will respond to the report of the committee to pressure for imposing sanctions from the European Union before the end of the usual grace period which is 60 days, due to the persisting situation in the region.

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