The Writing's on the Wall

I recently joined Roger Waters (Pink Floyd), Ken Livingstone, and a group of other MPs and MEPs in signing a replica of Israel's so called security wall, which has ha d a devastating effect on the lives of Palestinians.

The replica wall was built by the charity War on Want, who are campaigning to have the wall demolished.

Now the International Court of Justice has ruled that the construction of the wall is illegal. Unsurprisingly the Government of Israel has refused to accept the ruling. Yet it is blatantly obvious that it must be illegal.

It is built on occupied land, not on the 1967 border of Israel. It is cutting many thousands of Palestinians from their land. It is stopping children getting to their schools. It has made it impossible for people to reach medial care when they needed it. The effects on the Palestinian economy are devastating.

I fully support War on Want's campaign, and I hope that as many people as possible will sign the wall and send a message both to the Government of Israel and to our own Government. I want to see our Government making it crystal clear to Israel that the wall has to come down.

Among the initial signatories to War on Want's wall were:

Roger Waters (Pink Floyd  wrote The Wall), Ken Livingstone, Naomi Klein, Robin Cook, Tony Benn, Damien Rice (singer), Shane McGowan (singer), Billy Bragg, Sian Evans (Kosheen), Mark and Lard (DJs), Jerry Dammers (Specials), Menzies Campbell MP, Glenda Jackson MP, Phil Jupitas (comedian), Joan Ruddock MP, Neil Gerrard MP, Hywel Williams MP, Anne Campbell MP, Alistair Carmichael MP, John Barrett MP, Jim Sheridan MP, Jean Lambert MEP, Pete Wishart MP, Angus Robertson MP, Jill Evans MEP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Tony Lloyd MP, Brian Iddon MP, Llew Smith MP, Paul Flynn MP.

The photo above shows a number of MPs, including myself on the left, at the signing.

July 2004

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