Summary

Whilst many people are focussed on Palestine, Iran and Yemen, we must not forget that the apartheid Zionist regime continues to slaughter people in South Lebanon on a daily basis and ethnically cleanse the area with barely any coverage on mainstream media. The expansion of this genocidal campaign makes it urgent to do all we can to combat this policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide, help the people of Lebanon, along with the other victims, and make sure that the world is reminded that this horrendous crime is still taking place and will not be forgotten.

Background

Between March 2^nd and July 8^th of this year 4,321people had been reported to have been systematically killed in Lebanon, and that number has risen almost every day since. Alongside these deaths, tens of thousands of people have been reported injured. Entire villages and towns in the South have been reduced to rubble, including Bint Jbeil which has been completely emptied of its 30,000 residents. The Zionists have made it clear that they intend to repeat the carnage committed in Gaza and extend their genocide there. Recently they have been starting huge wildfires in order to advance their campaign of ethnic cleansing.

This is all being done whilst they continue to bomb Gaza and Syria, and expand their settlements in the West Bank. As well as occupying Palestine, Israel is now occupying parts of both Lebanon and Syria.

Action Required

Write to the foreign secretary demanding that UK change their foreign policy regarding West Asia. The address, email address and a template letter are below.

Boycott the Zionist regime and encourage others to do so. You can download our boycott e-flyers or order physical versions to hand out in your local neighbourhood here

You can find out more about Zionism and why it is a racist ideology here

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Donate to IHRC’s campaigns which include supporting Lebanon, Palestine and Yemen amongst many others here

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Template Letter

[Your name]

[Your address]

[Date]

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP

Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

King Charles Street

London

SW1A 2AH

Dear Foreign Secretary,

Re: UK Foreign Policy in West Asia

I am writing to express my extreme concern regarding UK foreign policy in West Asia and to make clear that enough is enough: we must change course.

Israel has not ceased its genocidal policies and is, in fact, extending them into Southern Lebanon, where between 2 March and 8 July of this year they have systematically killed 4,321people. The mass destruction being witnessed in Southern Lebanon is an expansion of the genocide in Gaza. For example, the Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil has been completely emptied of its 30,000 residents, in a mass pogrom.

The recent bombing of Syria shows that Israel’s brutal and inhumane policies are being allowed to continue unchecked. As a country, we are at best ignoring Israel’s crimes and, at worst, complicit in it by arming and providing logistical support to the most immoral army in the world. Furthermore, within two days of taking power Andy Burnham has agreed to allow the USA to use UK military bases to launch attacks on Iran as part of the illegal US–Israel war.

The time has come to change our current foreign policy: Britain must stop blindly following the illegal policies dictated by the USA and Israel – policies that have proven immoral and destructive to the world. Instead, we should pursue a more ethical foreign policy, one consistent with international law.

It is time to begin a new relationship with West Asia, one to the mutual benefit for both Britain and the region, rather than serving the interests of the military-industrial complex or Israel and the US. We must no longer provide financial, diplomatic or military support for the barbarous acts we are seeing in West Asia.

We can begin by imposing sanctions on Israel; publicly condemning the genocide in Gaza and southern Lebanon; refusing to allow the United States access to British military bases for the purpose of launching further illegal attacks against any sovereign nation; and negotiating new relationships with the Islamic Republic of Iran, Lebanon and the Palestinian people, based on mutual trust and respect.

Our foreign policy has made us complicit in genocide, war crimes and apartheid. We can, and must, do better.

Yours sincerely,

[Your signature if posting]

[Your name]

Address

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP

Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

King Charles Street

London

SW1A 2AH

Alternatively, you can email him at fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk