Hastings Jews for Justice to get long-sought meeting with MP
Hastings & Rye’s newly elected MP Helena Dollimore is now fully engaged in the work of Parliament, having made her maiden speech. While the MP tells HOT she has been busy meeting people and helping constituents, some local groups and people have reported no response on trying to contact her. One of these is Hastings Jews for Justice, which has sent HOT an open letter about their unsuccessful attempts to arrange a meeting with the MP, though this meeting is finally to be arranged. Nick Terdre reports.
As this article was going to press, Teresa Thornhill of Hastings Jews for Justice (HJJ) told HOT she had just been contacted by Dollimore’s office with a view to setting up a meeting.
The open letter, dated 6 September and signed by Thornhill, explains that HJJ had been seeking an urgent meeting with Dollimore to discuss UK policy on Gaza and the West Bank since July – letters were sent to her on 18 July and 20 August – but had received no substantive response over a seven-week period.
The newly formed group consists of some 30 Jews and people of Jewish heritage who have come together, the letter says, “because we are appalled by the mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza which we consider to be an utterly disproportionate response to the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7,” as well as being deeply concerned about settler violence and Israeli state violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
MP at work
In her statement to HOT, which does not mention the requested meeting with HJJ, the MP writes: “Since the General Election I have been busy working hard for the people of Hastings and Rye on the biggest issues we face. I’ve spoken in Parliament about Southern Water, our housing crisis, our local schools, our NHS and even our potholes, raised issues directly with Government Ministers, and joined relevant groups working cross party to make change happen.
“This includes speaking with the Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer MP, about the need for an immediate ceasefire by all sides, and this Labour Government is using every diplomatic lever to bring this about. I’ve also met with some of the families of the hostages held by Hamas. I’ve also met with constituents about the situation, and I look forward to hearing these constituents’ views on this.
“Since being elected I’ve received over 2500 cases from residents and been busy hiring a team of staff to support residents. We have already sent over 750 replies and closed over 550 cases. My priority as our MP is to deal with the most urgent cases first such as where there is a risk to life, medical emergencies or an urgent passport issue.
“I’ve held 7 surgeries in a range of places and you can ask for an appointment by emailing me on Helena Dollimore.MP@Parliament.uk. Just last month my team were able to assist a local pensioner who had been without his state pension for years, and win him a back payment of over £75,000. I would like to thank my team members for their hard work over this busy period.”
Issues raised by HJJ
Dated 6 September, HJJ’s letter (see full text below) lists the issues which the group wishes to discuss with Dollimore: the upholding of international law, which it says the government appears to be reluctant to do; a 100% embargo on UK arms sales to Israel; a ceasefire in Gaza; sanctions against the Israeli leadership; and recognition of a Palestinian state.
It welcomes the government’s renewal of funding for the UNRWA, the UN’s relief agency working in Gaza, and its decision not to contest the application to the International Criminal Court for the issue of arrest warrants against senior Israeli personnel, but expresses concern at the rise of Islamophobia on Britain’s streets.
A press release condemning the Israeli armed forces’ bombing of an encampment in Al Masawi in which 40 Palestinians were killed which was issued on 11 September by Hastings & District Palestine Solidarity Campaign and supported by HJJ and several other local groups says that the coalition of groups had reached out to the MP but had received no response.
Hastings Jews for Justice: open letter to Helena Dollimore MP
Dear Helena
I write on behalf of Hastings Jews for Justice (HJJ) in respect of the issues set out in two letters sent to you by us on 18 July and 20 August (and also handed to you in person at Westminster on 24 July) seeking an urgent meeting to discuss UK policy on Gaza and the West Bank. Given the continuing extremely high death toll particularly among Palestinian children and women and your failure to provide a substantive response over a seven week period, we are now sending you this open letter, which will also go to the local press.
HJJ is a newly-formed group of over thirty Jews and those of Jewish heritage who live in the Hastings and Rye constituency. We came together because we are appalled by the mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza which we consider to be an utterly disproportionate response to the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7. We are also deeply concerned about settler violence and now Israeli state violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Further, we aim to challenge accusations of antisemitism to silence Jews who do not support Israel’s war on Gaza.
We wish to discuss with you:
The upholding of international law
Your government has made much of its commitment to international law, yet appears reluctant to challenge what are widely recognised as flagrant breaches of international law currently being committed by a close ally. This sets a dangerous precedent in an increasingly war-torn world and brings the UK into international disrepute. In this context it is vital that the new government call out Israel’s actions.
A full, 100% embargo on UK arms sales to Israel
On Monday 2 September Foreign Secretary David Lammy imposed a ban on approximately 8.5% of UK licences for arms sales to Israel, pointing out that Israel only purchases 1% of its weapons from the UK. In our view, the small percentage is beside the point. It is imperative that the UK send a strong signal to Israel that it disapproves of the disproportionate military attacks it has now been waging for eleven months against Palestinian civilians, under the pretext of seeking to destroy Hamas. (Most thoughtful observers including many Israelis believe that it is impossible to destroy Hamas by military means, that the continuing genocide is likely to produce a new generation of traumatised and implacable Palestinians and that a political solution is the only way forward.) A full arms embargo, such as Margaret Thatcher imposed in 1982 when Israel invaded Lebanon, might not have a major impact on Israel’s military capability, but it would send a crucial message from a close ally.
The UK’s duties under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide (1948)
As a signatory, the UK is under a legal duty to prevent and punish genocide, but to date this duty has been openly breached by both the last government and the new one, despite the ruling by the ICJ in January 2024 that there is a plausible risk that genocide is being committed by Israel in Gaza. South Africa is the applicant in that ongoing case, supported by at least 13 other countries including Spain and Ireland. We believe that the UK must now also intervene in the case on the side of the applicant, to send an appropriate message to Israel and to avoid being complicit in genocide.
A ceasefire in Gaza
We appreciate it is now Labour party policy to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. We believe this will not be achieved while the Israeli leadership continues to receive the message from the UK (and the US) that there will be no effective sanctions for their continued blocking of a deal with Hamas.
Sanctions against the Israeli leadership
It is clear to all rational observers that the current Israeli leadership is unwilling to pay heed to calls for restraint, even when those calls come from Israel’s closest allies. Many Israelis now consider that Netanyahu is blocking a deal with Hamas due to fears for his own political future once the war ends. The next step must be the imposition of stringent sanctions, both economic and political, on Netanyahu and his extremist right wing allies (Itamar Ben-Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Yoav Gallant). Given Britain’s major historic role in the creation of the state of Israel, it is incumbent on our government to send a clear message to the Israeli leadership by taking this step.
Recognition of the State of Palestine
We believe that the UK should follow Norway, Ireland, Spain and Slovenia in recognising the State of Palestine forthwith, and not wait until this can be done ‘as a contribution to a renewed peace process’ as promised in Labour’s election manifesto. A renewed peace process many not start for many years to come.
UNRWA and the ICC
We are pleased that the government has withdrawn the previous government’s application to the ICC challenging the application to issue arrest warrants against senior Israeli personnel. We are also pleased that the government has now reinstated UK funding to UNRWA.
The increase in Islamophobia on Britain’s streets
The conflict is causing an alarming rise in Islamophobia in the UK. We are concerned about this and would like to know what steps you plan to take to promote good community relations in Hastings and Rye.
We repeat our request for an urgent meeting with you to discuss these matters further. We fail to see how your lack of an office should stand in the way of this, and would be happy to arrange a suitable venue.
Yours sincerely
Teresa Thornhill
Retired child protection barrister on behalf of Hastings Jews for Justice
If you’re enjoying HOT and would like us to continue providing fair and balanced reporting on local matters please consider making a donation. Click here to open our PayPal donation link. Thank you for your continued support!
1 Comment
Please read our comment guidelines before posting on HOT
Leave a comment
(no more than 350 words)
Also in: Politics
Local politics revives with messages from Greens and Labour »
Good luck, HJJ. You have a critically important voice in discussions of the wars in Gaza, Israel and Middle East generally. More power to your elbows.
Comment by Bea Rogers — Monday, Sep 16, 2024 @ 10:40