UK official defies ban on Hamas; to press boycott end of Palestinians
Palestine-Israel-UK, Politics, 5/7/2007

A British member of the European Parliament (MEP) has returned from the occupied territories, appealing to Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett to press the US, Russia, EU and UN to end their boycott of the Palestinian government.

"I do urge you to use all influence at your disposal to persuade the Quartet to deal with all members of the national unity government and to restore direct payments to the Palestinian Authority," said Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies.

"While attention has been focused on making the Palestinians comply with the wishes of the Quartet it must never be forgotten that their desperate condition is a direct consequence of the occupation of their land," Davies wrote in his letter to Beckett.

During his visit, the Liberal Democrat MEP together with his Green Party colleague Caroline Lucas defied the EU boycott on talking with Hamas to became the first British politicians to meet Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Hanieh.

In his letter to Beckett, Davies questioned the unbalanced policy of the Quartet in following Israeli demands to put all the onus only on the Palestinian Authority.

Hanieh was prepared to meet the Quartet "without reservation or precondition" to discuss details of his government's program, but questioned whether Israel would recognize a Palestinian state, he said, "Why does the Quartet expect us to give all the responses without requiring Israel to do the same?" the Palestinian Prime Minister was quoted as saying.

The new government has had a "calming influence" on the violence, the MEP said, but warned that this may become impossible to maintain if it is not seen to be making progress in addressing needs.

"The situation in Palestine and in Gaza in particular, is appalling in human terms and politically very unstable," Davies said.

He said it was his third visit in just over a year and that conditions even seen from a speeding armored vehicle have palpably deteriorated." He suggested Gaza City was "like something out of a horror movie" and asked what the UK government was doing about it.

"Israel is withholding payment to the Palestinian Authority of the VAT and customs revenues collected on its behalf, continues to permit expansion of Jewish settlements and the building of the Security Wall on Palestinian land," Davies warned.

He said Israel was also maintaining "a blockade that makes economic activity almost impossible, and holds more than 10,000 political prisoners including some 40 elected representatives without charge or trial."

Previous Stories:
  UK doctors call for boycott of Israeli Medical Association   (4/23/2007)
  Voices in Europe grow for end to sanctions on Palestinians   (3/26/2007)
  Livni asks for EU to keep pressure on Hamas   (3/6/2007)
  Abbas meets Blair   (2/21/2007)
  EU condemns Israeli settlement as illegal   (12/30/2006)
  UK church leaders pledge to be voice of voiceless in Bethlehem   (12/23/2006)

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