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4th October 2000
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MCB CALLS ON FOREIGN OFFICE TO ISSUE UNEQUIVOCAL CONDEMNATION OF ISRAELI STATE TERRORISM
A six-member delegation from the MCB visited the Foreign Office this afternoon and met with Mr Alan Goulty, the Head of the Middle East Desk. The MCB delegation conveyed the deep anger and horror of Britain’s Muslim community at the ongoing vicious and murderous Israeli response to the Palestinian demonstrations against the desecration of the Islamic Holy site of Al-Haram Al-Sharif in Al-Quds (Jerusalem). These actions are in flagrant breach of the Geneva Convention, International and Human Rights Law.
Yousuf Bhailok, the MCB Secretary General, said "We have been very surprised and saddened with the muted reaction of our Government at the disproportionate and excessive use of force by the Israeli army on the Palestinians. The use of tanks, missiles and helicopter gunships on the civilian population is in total contravention of human rights and international law. The Israelis have not even spared young children. We call on the British government to issue an unequivocal condemnation of the Israeli actions and to demand an immediate cessation of the use of such excessive and lethal force by the Israelis."
The MCB notes that the Palestinians have become increasingly frustrated and desperate because of the lack of confidence in the Oslo process and peace negotiations. We therefore urge the British government and the European Union to play a more constructive role to ensure that a just settlement is reached.
The MCB Secretary General in recent weeks visited Jerusalem (Al-Quds) and was horrified that after so many decades there has not been any improvement in the situation of the Palestinians in terms of their national and human rights and nor of their economic and social conditions. The Palestinians are still subject to humiliation and poverty.
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