PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
THREATENED DEMOLITION OF BEIT ARABIYA PEACE HOUSE (5 January 2004)

That this House expresses its concern at the threatened demolition of the Peace House, Beit Arabiya, in the village of Anata in the occupied West Bank on land owned by Salim and Arabiya Shawamreh; notes that Beit Arabiya is dedicated to the memories of US peace activist, Rachel Corrie and Nuha Sweiden, a Palestinian, both of whom died during demolition of homes by Israeli troops; further notes that houses built by the Shawamreh family on the Anata site have been destroyed by the Israeli authorities on four previous occasions in five years, sometimes with less than one hour's notice being given to the family; pays tribute to the Shawamreh family and the Palestinian, Israeli and international volunteers who have rebuilt the house on each occasion; further notes that around 100,000 Palestinian homes have been destroyed by Israel during the occupation at the same time as illegal settlements have been subsidised and expanded; further notes that such actions are contrary to Israel's obligations under international law and undermine the cause of peace; and calls on the United Kingdom Government to make urgent representations to Israel to halt both the destruction of Beit Arabiya and its policy of house demolition in the Occupied Territories.

Sponsored by:
Richard Burden (Labour)