[Peace-discuss] From a LibDem MP: UK Parliament votes to recognise Palestine

Tue Oct 14 17:47:16 EDT 2014

A good step forward, but this press release doesn't mention ( that I saw 
) that it is a Non Binding Resolution.

David Johnson

On 10/14/2014 12:46 PM, Robert Naiman via Peace-discuss wrote:
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> *From:*David Ward MP <mailto:david at davidward.org.uk>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, October 14, 2014 4:33 AM
> *Subject:*UK Parliament votes to recognise Palestine
> Late last night, I joined MPs from all sides of the House of Commons 
> to vote for the UK Government to immediately recognise Palestine as a 
> sovereign state. I'm very pleased to say that MPs chose...
> <http://davidward.org.uk/>
>
>
>   David Ward MP
>
> http://davidward.org.uk/
>
> David Ward MP and other MP's before the vote to recognise Palestine
>
> Late last night, I joined MPs from all sides of the House of Commons 
> to vote for the UK Government to immediately recognise Palestine as a 
> sovereign state.
>
> I'm very pleased to say that MPs chose to recognise the state of 
> Palestine by 274 votes for recognition to only 12 votes against 
> recognition. I'm particularly pleased to say that *almost all Lib 
> Dems* that aren't Ministers *voted for Palestinian recognition*.
>
> *I voted to recognise the State of Palestine.*
>
> I did this because it is the intrinsic right of the Palestinian people 
> to be recognised as a legitimate state outside of the ongoing peace 
> process with Israel. Some have said that a Palestinian State can only 
> happen as part of a negotiated peace ending in a two state solution 
> with Israel.
>
> To this, I say that the UK unilaterally recognised Israel in 1950 
> outside of any negotiations with the Palestinian people and that it is 
> absurd to have the recognition of a sovereign people conditional on 
> negotiations where one state will always have power over the other. *A 
> successful two state solution needs two states to be in existence.*
>
> David Ward and recognition of Palestine
>
> I want this crucial support from the House of Commons to give hope to 
> the Palestinian people, to provide a message that there are people in 
> the world that care about them and that violence is not the way to 
> find a lasting peace. For many Palestinians, the utter despair of 
> their situation has forced them into the arms of men of violence like 
> Hamas as a way to fight against oppression. We need to show these 
> people that violence will only embolden Israeli aggression and the 
> only way to find peace is through successful peaceful negotiations.
>
> *Statehood for the Palestinian people will provide hope and 
> demonstrate that there can be success in following a peaceful course 
> of action.*
>
>
> Many people from all backgrounds and from all faiths are supporting us 
> and whilst yesterday's vote is non-binding, it will put enormous 
> pressure on the UK Government to follow our example and recognise the 
> State of Palestine.
>
> The tide is turning, the world has woken up and seen Israel's recent 
> atrocities in Gaza, it has categorically shown the world the horrors 
> that many Palestinians live in and that finding a lasting and 
> non-violent two state solution is an absolute priority.
>
> In two weeks' time, I hope to go on a fact finding mission to Gaza and 
> I will be very proud to tell Palestinians I meet that the British 
> Parliament supports them and the State of Palestine. I will be 
> publishing a diary of my Gaza visit, who I meet and what I see and you 
> will be able to follow this by visiting my website at 
> www.davidward.org.uk 
> <http://davidward.org.uk/click/mgGH?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.davidward.org.uk%2F>
>
> Also if you have not already signed it, *please sign and share my 
> petition on Twitter or Facebook* calling for the UK Government to 
> stand up for the Palestinian people 
> http://davidward.org.uk/en/petition/we-demand-the-british-government-stands-up-for-the-palestinians-now 
> <http://davidward.org.uk/en/petition/we-demand-the-british-government-stands-up-for-the-palestinians-now?t=mgGH>
>
> Many thanks again for joining me and showing your continued support to 
> the Palestinian people.
>
> With the best of wishes
>
> DW signiture
>
> *David Ward*
>
> *Member of Parliament for Bradford East*
>
> Palestine Petition Button
>
> Donate Button
>
> Printed (dispatched) by Prater Raines Ltd 
> <http://www.praterraines.co.uk/>, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone 
> CT20 3BY
> Published and promoted by B.Stubbs on behalf of David Ward and the 
> Liberal Democrats, all at 458 Killinghall Road, BD2 4SL
> The views expressed are those of the publisher, not of the service 
> provider.
>
>
>
>
>
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