June 2007 marks the 40th anniversary of Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories including East Jerusalem taken in the 'Six Day War'. (But Palestinian suffering dates back further to 1948, when the state of Israel was created and 750,000 Palestinians were driven or fled from their homes.)

MPACUK is a member of Enough! - a coalition of charities, trade unions, faith and other campaign groups that is organising a national demonstration to mark the anniversary, on Saturday 9th June in London. (see: www.enoughoccupation.org )

Occupation means daily injustice meted out to the Palestinians living in the Occupied Territories. Roadblocks and checkpoints have made everyday activities like travelling to school, hospital or visiting friends & relatives into chores lasting several hours. Not to mention the crippling effect this has had on the Palestinian economy.

Settlements which are in fact illegal colonies are being continuously expanded throughout the West Bank and linked with highways that only Jewish residents can use: 21st Century Apartheid. Colonies are also strategically sited near aquifers ensuring that control of precious water resources stays with Israel thus increasing Palestinian dependence on Israel. The colonies and the highway network has had the effect of carving up the West Bank and making any potential Palestinian State a patchwork of 'Bantustans' rather than a viable, free state.

Such actions call into question whether the Israeli Government is actually committed to abiding by International law or indeed to a two state solution.

The Israeli Government calls Jerusalem its “Eternal Capital” yet this very statement contravenes United Nations and International Law. The legal status of Jerusalem is very clear and leaves no room for ambiguity;

East Jerusalem is considered by the international community to be illegally occupied by Israel, in contravention of several binding UN Security Council Resolutions. In these resolutions, the United Nations Security Council has also called for no measures to be taken to change the status of Jerusalem until a final settlement is reached between the sides: declaring Jerusalem as Israel's capital is an attempt to change this status, and is thus a violation of these Security Council resolutions.

Yet despite this Israel continues to defy the UN and the international community with almost no challenge from the democratic nations who have traditionally championed the moral high ground and respect for the rule of law. The silence of Tony Blair’s Government in holding Israel to account and standing up for the rights of the Palestinian people, especially during the premeditated Israeli attack on Lebanon, has been especially disappointing. Along with the US and many EU countries, the UK government is today involved in a close military, economic and political relationship with Israel. MPACUK call upon the UK government to stand up for international law and human rights.

The British media has an important role to play in highlighting this important and tragic milestone to the public. MPACUK are hopeful that the media will fulfil its moral obligations and tell the story of the Palestinian plight on this important anniversary.

For further details and comment please contact MPACUK on 0870 760 5594 or by email on info@mpacuk.org

---