UK
Advocacy group urges British supporters to write to their MPs about Israel
British Friends of Israel launches letter writing campaign
August 14, 2024 16:20
British Friends of Israel launches letter writing campaign
August 14, 2024 16:20British Friends of Israel (BFI) is calling for British supporters of Israel to write to their MPs urging that they support Israel’s efforts to defeat Hamas and combat rising antisemitism in the UK.
The non-profit organisation is concerned about Labour’s pledges on resuming funding of Unrwra and the recognition of a state of Palestine.
According to a representative of BFI, over 1,500 letters have been sent by the group’s supporters to their local MPs since the campaign was launched on Wednesday.
"Our followers have been horrified by the increase in antisemitism in Britain and are incredibly engaged on these issues,” said Laura Dodsworth, a member of the BFI team. “They are likely to keep us informed when they hear from their MPs. So far, we have been sent copies from about 13 MPs who sent swift replies to their constituents — they appear to be very supportive of the issues which were raised.
"The important thing is that these MPs do hear about these concerns, which are drowned out by Saturday protests and biased media coverage of the violence. This is essential now under a new Labour government,” Dodsworth said.
BFI noted on its website that “writing to politicians is a vital way to raise awareness of concerns and create political change,” and it is especially important in the current climate when “many of the loudest voices at the moment are pro-Palestinian and even pro-Hamas.”
⬇️ Write to your MP today ⬇️https://t.co/QjfYoF9E3l https://t.co/8Mp14aWeHU
— The October Declaration (@Oct_Declaration) August 13, 2024
The organisation, which was established “by a small group of concerned British citizens” in the wake of the October 7 attack, is urging MPs to consider several points in its pre-drafted letter, which can be used as a template for those interested in writing to their local MPs.
The letter seeks assurance that MPs will “continue to support Israel’s military action until it has achieved its objectives of freeing the hostages and removing Hamas from power,” and points out the involvement of Unwra staff in the October 7 attack as reason for concern over the resumption of funding to the organisation.
It also demands that a Palestinian state is not recognised by the government while Hamas “refuses to recognise the state of Israel, rejects Israel’s ceasefire terms and refuses to release the hostages.”
Finally, the letter contends that MPs should be “loudly supportive of British Jews and condemn antisemitism in the strongest terms,” citing a poll by the Campaign Against Antisemitism which showed that 48 per cent of British Jews have considered leaving the UK due to antisemitism.
In October 2023 BFI launched The October Declaration in response to the October 7 attacks, calling on British media to condemn Hamas’ violence and the subsequent rise in antisemitism in the UK. The treatise was signed by over 83,000 British citizens and residents, including Vanessa Feltz, Maureen Lipman, Tom Holland, Rachel Riley and many more prominent figures.