Green Eurocandidate speaks up for Gaza
17 May 2009
Shirley Ford, lead Green Eurocandidate for North East England, will be among candidates from several parties at hustings organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Durham tomorrow (Tuesday 19th May).
Speaking ahead of Tuesday's event, she said:
"All eyes were on the Middle East last week for the Pope's visit - and again now as Netanyahu meets Obama. But I want to be sure that the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people - particularly in Gaza - is remembered. There has been a tremendous sense of solidarity amongst North Easterners for the people of Gaza, I hope this continues and Gaza is not forgotten."
Green MEPs, Caroline Lucas and Jean Lambert, have been pushing in the European Parliament for a suspension of the trade agreement between the EU and Israel [1].
Shirley commented:
"Determined action to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is long overdue. We must exert pressure on leaders in the UK and Europe to help lift the blockade on the movement of goods across the border, and to end arms trading with Israel.
"As an activist in the Women in Black movement I have campaigned for over 15 years for an end to the Israeli occupation; an end to violence, militarism and war. The Palestinian people urgently need our support to help work towards creating a safe and peaceful future based on a two state solution."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
[1] The EU-Israel Association Agreement is a contract which allows Israel privileged trading terms with EU countries conditional upon respect for human rights (Article 2)
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