In a meeting called to discuss local concerns over events in the Middle East, community members representing all faiths and backgrounds condemned the Israeli massacre of civilians in Lebanon and the systematic destruction of the country’s infrastructure. The destruction of four key bridges necessary for the delivery of supplies by road has stopped aid convoys taking supplies to the estimated 1 million civilians forced from their homes by the Israeli bombing campaign.

‘How many more innocent lives do we have to lose before Blair uses his influence to stop the state terrorism in Lebanon?’ asked the General Secretary of BCoM, Moulana Adam. 'Our prime Minister’s uncritical and unjustified support for Israeli attacks on civilians in Lebanon is unethical, immoral and contrary to the views of his government and the British public.’

The two MPs agreed that Blair needed to change his position and support an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

The two MPs also felt that the ongoing wars in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine made the United Kingdom more likely to come under terrorist attack in the UK; this view also held by BCoM and the majority of British Muslim is in direct contrast to the views strongly expressed by Tony Blair a few weeks ago that Muslims need to look at themselves and stop blaming Britain's Foreign Policy for the attacks on 7/7.

Both MPs called for a recall of Parliament, a ban on the sale of arms to Israel and an end to the use of UK airports in transferring arms from the USA to Israel . Crausby went on to say that Blair should resign as Prime Minister.

Community members pointed out to local MPs that the aggression by Israel on civilians in order to achieve a political goal amounted to state terrorism. They asked the MPs to join in the political effort to end Israel ’s campaign of terror, and identify means where the United Kingdom can lead international efforts to protect and bring humanitarian aid to the civilian population of Lebanon and Palestine .

An overwhelming consensus of the public meeting, supported by the two MPs was that Blair’s efforts should be less on appeasing President Bush and more on seeking a comprehensive and just resolution to the Middle East conflict.

[Source: Bolton Council Of Mosques - Press Release.  Bolton Council of Mosques (BCoM) is an umbrella organisation representing the Mosques in Bolton. yunusyb@hotmail.com]

MPACUK congratulate the Bolton Council of Mosques on these pro-active efforts to help our brothers and sisters in Lebanon and Palestine. The local MPACUK team in Bolton were in attendance to support this meeting and report that mash'Allah 250 people turned out to lobby their MPs. (The only disappointment is that only 5 of those were women!)

MPACUK Open Day: Crisis Lebanon 

Sunday 13th August, 2-5pm.

Blue Flame Community Centre (off Derby Street)

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