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Thank you to all of you who have so far taken action and contacted the Foreign Office about the Prawer Plan – Israel’s plan to forcibly ethnic cleanse around 40,000 Palestinian Bedouin from the Naqab (also known as the Negev) and force them into townships. Write to the Minister>

More than 1,300 have written to the Foreign Office to ask that the British Government make urgent representations to the Government of Israel making clear there will be ‘deep and lasting consequences to relations between the two states if Israel goes ahead’ with their Prawer Plan.

Alistair Burt, the Middle East Minister, has replied:

Thank you for the interest shown by your organisation on the issue of the Bedouin villages in the Negev.  I am replying as Minister responsible for our relations with the Middle East and this letter serves as a reply for all of the correspondence that we have received on this issue.

The UK continues to follow closely Israeli Government plans with respect to unrecognised Bedouin villages in the Negev.  We have continually encouraged the Israeli Government and Bedouin communities to engage in dialogue to agree a lasting, satisfactory solution to this long-standing and complex issue. We remain concerned about any potential forced relocation of Bedouin communities. 

I discussed the proposed legislation with Members of the Knesset when I visited Israel in June 2013.  On previous visits, I have gone to unrecognised and recognised Bedouin villages in the Negev and met with Bedouin leaders and with the then Israeli Minister responsible, Benny Begin.  Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv has also discussed the proposed legislation with relevant Ministers and parliamentarians whilst our Embassy is in regular contact with Bedouin leaders and activists.

We will be following up to ask the Minister to consider what action the British Government will take if Israel goes ahead with its plan to forcibly removed 40,000 Palestinian Bedouin.

Now, write again and tell the Middle East Minister we want to know what action the British Government will take if Israel goes ahead with its ethnic cleansing plan. Write the Minister>

 

Read the PDF – Letter from Mr Burt to Sarah Colborne PSC re Bedouin villages in the Negev