9th – 11th July 2010: Jerusalem, Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel

Baroness Tonge (Liberal Democrat), Lord Ahmed (Labour) and Lord Hylton (Independent). Accompanied by Shazia Arshad (Parliamentary Officer, Middle East Monitor).

The trip was fully sponsored by the Middle East Monitor.

The trip was organised as an emergency visit to focus on the urgency of the plights of Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Members who are currently faced with deportation. Muhammed Abu Teir, Ahmad Attoun, Muhammed Totah, and Khaled Abu Arafeh, Former PA Minister of Jerusalem Affairs have been served with deportation orders by the Israeli authorities under claims of disloyalty to the state. Although they are elected representatives they have been ordered to leave Jerusalem where they have lived all their lives and where their families continue to reside. Muhammad Abu Teir has already been arrested by the Israeli authorities. The remaining three PLC members have now sought refuge at the Red Cross.

Whilst in the Occupied Territories and Jerusalem, the Delegation were also able to meet with Arab Members of the Israeli Knesset and other Members of the Palestinian Legislative chamber as well local residents of Palestinian areas of East Jerusalem that are threatened with demolition to create way for new illegal Israeli settlement homes.

The Delegation listened to many reports of the current situation in Palestine and they will now continue to press the UK government for further action.

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