Mary Macleod condemns attacks and urges talks

Brentford and Isleworth MP Mary Macleod spoke out on the conflict in Gaza in her recent newsletter:

She wrote, "Over the last few months, the Middle East Peace Process has been jeopardised by escalating violence between Israelis and Palestinians. This is deeply concerning for the future of the region and comes at a particularly tumultuous time in international affairs.
 
"The violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) is deeply worrying. Israel should and does have the right to defend itself from attack (and its people expect it to), but it must ensure that it distinguishes between military and civilian targets. Palestinians are being killed daily, most of them civilians – and many of them children, with worrying reports of attacks on schools. It is absolutely right we condemn these attacks.
 
"The only way to resolve this conflict once and for all is a properly negotiated two-state solution. For this to happen, we need a real, unbreakable ceasefire now, based on the ceasefire that ended the conflict in November 2012. The situation is incredibly complicated, but I believe that with hard work, hard truths and hard negotiating – we can get the peace that the region sorely needs.
 
"It is not the time to be taking sides. Above all, the killing needs to stop. The leadership in Israel and in Gaza have a responsibility to their people. I am sure that they want peace more than anything".

August 7, 2014