CONSTRUCTION OF SEPARATION WALL BY ISRAEL

Early day motion 1689, tabled 15 September 2003 by Richard Burden (Labour). Signed by 142 members.

That this House calls on Israel to cease immediately the building of its security fence deep within Palestinian territory, which when completed, will leave 45 to 55 per cent. of the West Bank on Israel's side of the wall; notes that it is made up of reinforced cement, barbed wire, and electrical fences, trenches, electronic motion sensors, guard towers and security roads and will cost $1 million per kilometre and that it violates articles 53 and 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Britain is a high-contracting party, which forbids the destruction of property and confinement of persons by an occupier, further notes that the fence cuts deep into Palestinian land and, when completed, will incorporate approximately 91 per cent. of all West Bank settlements and 98 per cent. of its settlers and annex the richest agricultural land in the West Bank, including the aquifer system which provides 52 per cent. of the West Bank's water resources; further notes that, whilst Israel needs security, the wall does not follow the internationally recognised border; insists that this does not become a de facto border for a future Palestinian state; further notes that only a reinvigorated peace process with full international support will stop the violence on both sides, not an eight metre high wall; and calls on the British Government to bring all available pressure to bear on Israel to cease building this wall.

Signatures by party: Labour 89, Liberal Democrat 28, Conservative 12, Labour/Co-operative 8, Plaid Cymru 3, Independent 1, Scottish National Party 1.