Speaking in the House of Commons debate on peace in the Middle East, Emily Thornberry MP pointed that it would help to keep her Islington people safe. During a highly charged debate on Thursday 20th July, Emily said:
"We have allowed a situation to continue to develop in the middle east that generates a huge amount of trouble, not only for those in the middle east but for those in the streets of London, those who travel on the buses in London and those who travel on the tube-my constituents. We need to be able to resolve the issue of the middle east because it continues to a generate a feeling of enormous resentment and of justification for the sort of terrorism that we are now suffering across the world."
Emily has also written to Margaret Beckett MP, the Foreign Secretary, and the Israeli Ambassador about the issue. Emily is calling for an immediate cease fire and the deployment of a UN force to the region to prevent further escalation.
Emily has been contacted by constituents concerned about their loved ones affected by the crisis in the Middle East. Despite being hundreds of miles away the effects of the crisis in the Middle East is being felt in multiethnic Islington. Emily is encouraging constituents with family in Lebanon to contact her if they have concerns. She has already been working to try to ensure that constituents' family members are evacuated. They should call 020 76979307 or e-mail emilythornberrymp@parliament.uk.
To raise awareness about the need for an end to the cycle of violence, Emily spoke at a benefit gig at Darbucka, St. John Street, on Thursday 20th July in support of ‘The Peace Cycle'. The Peace Cycle is a voluntarily organised bicycle ride from London to Jerusalem which aims to raise public awareness about the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and work for a cycle of peace rather than violence in the region.
Editors notes:
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Emily's full speech is available here.
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The Benefit Gig for the Peace Cycle was on Thursday 20th July, Darbuka, St John Street, Clerkenwell. It included a night of music and comedy featuring Kevin Eldon and Simon Munnery. More information on The Peace Cycle is at http://www.thepeacecycle.org/.
