PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
LONDON LAUNCH OF OPEN BETHLEHEM PROJECT (8 November 2005)

That this House is saddened by the devastating impact that the construction of the Israeli separation barrier has had upon the historic city of Bethlehem; notes that the city is encircled by the barrier on two sides and by a series of roadblocks and restricted roads on the other which have left it isolated from the rest of the West Bank and Jerusalem; observes with alarm that this has divided families, seized land and left Bethlehemites isolated from sites of special religious significance as well as damaging the tourist industry on which many people rely; notes the special significance in which many people of different faiths hold the city; welcomes the launch in London of the Open Bethlehem project, to attract new creative work and investment to the region and to bring to international attention the gravity of the situation in Bethlehem; and supports Open Bethlehem's positive objective of an open, democratic and diverse Middle East, with the right of all people, regardless of their faith and ethnic background, to live with dignity in their homeland.

Sponsored by:
Richard Burden (Labour)