Protesters will gather outside Downing Street on Wednesday to oppose the British government’s welcome of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu is due to meet with the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, in London that day.
Hugh Lanning, Chair of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: “We want to know why David Cameron is welcoming a man directly responsible for UN-identified war crimes to the UK. His welcome for Netanyahu sends out a very negative message about the UK government’s attitude towards Israel’s serial human rights abuses and the war crimes it committed in Gaza last year.
“Mr Cameron should get his priorities straight. Instead of welcoming Netanyahu, he should be imposing immediate sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel until it complies with international law and ends the occupation and the siege on Gaza.”
Protesters will wear masks of Netanyahu and Cameron and hold family photographs of some of the Palestinians killed during Israel’s 2014 assault on Gaza.
Tommy Sheppard MP will be among SNP MPs attending the protest, and will address the protesters.
A letter signed by nearly 10,000 people has been sent by PSC to David Cameron urging him not to welcome Netanyahu in London, but to instead impose immediate sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel until it complies with international law and ends the occupation and the siege on Gaza. Text of letter.