JUDGE RUTH OR

Early day motion 236, tabled 23 January 2001 by Ann Cryer (Labour). Signed by 21 members.

That this House is dismayed that Judge Ruth Or has sentenced an Israeli settler Rachum Karam to six months community service and a fine of 70,000 shekels, eight months imprisonment having been served on remand, for the killing, four years ago, of a 10 year old Palestinian boy, Hilma Shusha; regards this lenient sentence as little more than judicial approval of an extremely cruel act which may endanger what survives of the Middle East peace process; calls on the Israeli Government to examine their criminal justice system with a view to preventing further miscarriages and to halt the building of settlements which cannot be justified on grounds of housing need but are used to intimidate and repress the Palestinian population of the West Bank; and conveys its concern and heart felt sympathy to the family of Hilma Shusha.

Signatures by party: Labour 19, Liberal Democrat 1, Plaid Cymru 1.