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| Dawn Butler with lobbyists |
As part of a national lobby day organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign
(PSC) on 23 June 2015, recently elected Brent Central MP Dawn Butler met seven
of her constituents in parliament to discuss various issues related to
Palestine and British military and commercial ties with the state of Israel.
During the PSC’s pre-election campaign, Ms Butler had
provided assurances that she was pro-Palestinian and supported various measures
in support of Palestinian human rights. During the meeting, which lasted around
30 minutes, she echoed such views, comparing the disparity in the balance of
power between the Israelis and Palestinians and the effective situation on the
ground to apartheid in South Africa. Ms Butler stated that the Israeli state
has a right to defend itself but that its exercise of this right is
disproportionate.
The Palestinian issue is of broad interest to residents in
the north London borough of Brent across all communities, and constituents
raised issues of concern to them and their fellow residents, including lifting
the siege of Gaza, to allow the free movement of people, goods and humanitarian
aid. Ms Butler agreed that the blockade should be lifted immediately, and
agreed to sign related parliamentary motions on the issue.
Other issues raised include ending the arms trade with
Israel and all military collaboration, including the sales of weapons and
components, and taking steps to ensure products made in Israeli settlements,
which Ms Butler agrees are illegal and unjustifiable, are not sold in the UK.
On all issues, Ms Butler said she was willing to put questions to ministers and
work with constituents on their concerns. She also said that she was planning
to visit Gaza to see the situation for herself.
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