PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
PROMOTING PEACE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE (28 November 2006)

That this House welcomes the declaration of a mutual ceasefire in Gaza announced on 26th November as a positive first step towards resuming negotiations between Israel and Palestine; urges both sides to adhere to the terms of the ceasefire and to agree a mutual exchange of prisoners, including Corporal Shalit, Palestinian elected representatives and others held without trial; welcomes President Abbas's efforts to form a Palestinian Government of National Unity; notes that the international community can help this by lifting the current embargo on aid to the Palestinian Authority and resuming direct contacts; notes that a ceasefire and humanitarian aid alone will not address the suffering and poverty endured by the Palestinian people; calls on the British Government to urge the Israeli government to lift its blockade of Gaza, to release immediately tax revenues owed to the Palestinian Authority, and to lift movement restrictions affecting the West Bank to stimulate the Palestinian economy strangled by the impact of occupation; further notes that the only way to secure lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians is a negotiated two-state solution based on UN resolutions and international law; calls for an end to actions which violate those principles, such as continued building of settlements and of the barrier on occupied land; and calls on the UK Government to promote proactively a lasting peace agreement and to uphold international law through the EU, the Quartet, the UN and as a High Contracting Party to the Geneva Conventions.

Sponsored by:
Richard Burden (Labour)