Just a few weeks ago the World watched in horror at the brutal offensive conducted by at the Israeli government against the inhabitants of Gaza.
Thousands of civilians were either killed, wounded or traumatised. Essential civilian infrastructure - power, water and sewerage systems - all paid for by international aid programmes, were targeted and destroyed.
The reaction of Western governments on that occasion was muted. It took the outrage of Western citizens to shake them from the fence. As a result the military campaign became increasingly counter-productive and Israel had to pull out.
Now Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided to exact a further price on the Palestinians. He has announced his intention to annex 400 hectares of the West Bank, for the building of illegal settlements.
This despite the announcement in the Knesset on the 9th June (three days before Gaza exploded) that the Yesh Atid Party would quit the unity government should Netanyahu make any such annexation attempt.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-08/annexation-plan-sparks-threat-to-topple-israel-government.html
On this occasion, to its credit, the UK Government have been far quicker to make clear its opposition to the plan.
http://jpupdates.com/2014/09/01/british-foreign-minister-hammond-uk-deplores-israels-decision-annex-west-bank-land/
But what will be our reaction if Netanyahu ignores both us and his own coalition partners and proceeds with the annexation? What prospect then for a two state solution based on mutual respect and security?
In these circumstances, we would like the UK Government to take firm action. Action consistent with that applied in respect of Russia's annexation of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. ie the introduction of sanctions.
If it isn't, the double standards that we have applied to Israel over the past 70 years will continue a. to blight those discriminated against indigenous peoples made refugees in their own land; and b. enhance a tragic narrative that has and will continue to radicalise generations of disaffected Muslim's the world over.
Act now and sign this letter petitioning our leaders to stop this annexation.
