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Sixty parliamentarians urge government to commit to $200m Israeli-Palestinian peace fund
The letter calls on the UK to ‘substantiate its support for peaceful coexistence’
June 1, 2021 16:38
The letter calls on the UK to ‘substantiate its support for peaceful coexistence’
June 1, 2021 16:38More than 60 parliamentarians have signed a letter to UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, calling on the government to commit to an International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.
The letter, which was put together by the Britain-Israel All Party Parliamentary Group, includes signatures from 65 MPs and Lords representing the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats.
Chairs and presidents of Labour Friends of Israel, Conservative Friends of Israel and Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel have also signed.
The International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian peace is an initiative championed by ALLMEP, a coalition of organisations that aim to establish long-lasting peace between Israeli and Palestinian communities.
Though the fund has not yet been fully formed, it is envisioned as a $200 million annual purse “dedicated to creating the civic foundations upon which a lasting peace can be built.”
In 2018, Theresa May’s government confirmed its support for the concept, a move the United States has also taken.
Now, the Britain-Israel APPG is calling on the UK to “substantiate its support for peaceful coexistence” by playing “a decisive leadership role” and committing to the idea.
The letter states that recent outbreaks of violence in Israel and Gaza are “indicative of a failure by the international community” to invest in sustainable initiatives aimed at promoting peace.
It also argues that building peace in Israel and Palestine comes is part-in-parcel with the UK’s commitment to “liberal institutions and a peaceful world order.”