Ask your MP to attend debate on settlements in occupied Palestine

Couple on the site of their demolished home

Church campaigners are asking ICN readers to encourage their MPs to attend an important debate about the illegal settlements in the Holy Land which will take place next Thursday. The World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme have also sent us a petition ( see below)

The construction of settlements in occupied Palestine - including areas well known to pilgrims - near the Shepherds Fields and Bethlehem - quadrupled in 2016, according to the Israeli monitoring organisation Peace Now. The UN has reported that the eviction of Palestinian families and demolition of their homes by the Israeli authorities to accommodate settlements has reached record levels.


In December, the UN Security Council passed a resolution condemning the settlement enterprise, confirming once again that settlements are illegal under international law, and reiterating that they are a major obstacle to peace. For the first time the United States did not use their veto, giving the resolution a strength and influence greater than previous ones.

In light of these developments, Tommy Sheppard MP has secured a full debate in Parliament on Thursday, February 9th on the settlements.



Full debates on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict do not come up very often so campaigners are urging supporters to make the most of this opportunity to hold the government to account and encourage ministers to take concrete action.



It's therefore key that as many MPs as possible attend and speak out on February 9th. It's particularly important to encourage Conservative MPs to attend so the government can hear from its own backbenchers.

If you can, please contact your MP to:

• ask them to attend the debate to show their support for upholding international law and for a just peace in Israel and Palestine on the basis of two sovereign states and equal rights for all;

• ask them to speak in the debate so that the government can hear the strength of feeling among MPs from all political parties;

• let them know that a briefing will be circulated to MPs ahead of the debate by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Britain-Palestine.

You can find out how to contact your MP on the UK Parliament's website. www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/



For more information about the work of the World Council of Churches programme, please visit the EAPPI International website. http://eappi.org/en

To sign the petition see: www.change.org/p/boris-johnson-mp-stop-the-illegal-demolition-of-palestinian-homes-and-property