Westminster 

London

25^th July 2006

Dear Prime Minister,

We are deeply alarmed that the situation in the Lebanon, Gaza and Israel continues to rapidly deteriorate. Many of us have already shared with you our concerns over the humanitarian suffering and the current direction of British Government policy on the crisis. We write again now collectively to reiterate and amplify these shared concerns.

Given the lack of progress so far and the high stakes involved, we have taken the unusual step of writing this as an open letter so that our views can contribute to the public debate.

We welcome your statement yesterday that recognised the catastrophic impact the crisis is having. We also welcome your stated desire to see an end to the fighting. We are concerned however that the British government has yet to use its full influence to bring about an immediate ceasefire, a lasting end to the hostilities, and full compliance with international humanitarian law.

Though this may not have been the intention, by failing to back the UN and call for an immediate ceasefire the UK government has reduced the impact of international calls for an immediate halt to the violence. As such, your current policy risks putting civilian lives at continued risk rather than helping to protect them.

The argument that members of your Government have made – that calls for an immediate ceasefire will be ignored - risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophesy when such calls are not made resolutely, or by a united international community. Like you, we understand and endorse the need for a comprehensive solution to this conflict. But we have not yet heard a compelling argument as to why you will not call for an immediate ceasefire to save lives now - and create space for negotiations over a final settlement. The present policy looks in danger of placing the UK Government in the uncomfortable position of only calling for a ceasefire once one side in the conflict has achieved its military objectives.

We urge you to use Wednesday’s ministerial meeting in Rome to add the British Government’s weight to calls for an immediate ceasefire. To do anything else would be to fail to uphold the UK’s responsibility to help protect the civilians dieing in this conflict. We feel that such a move could still make a difference and show all sides that the international community is more united in its call for an immediate end to this conflict.

Once again, as aid agencies, human rights groups, Trade Unions, voluntary groups and international security analysts we urge you to rethink your policy as a matter of urgency and do what you can to reduce the horrific toll that this conflict is having on ordinary people across the region. We would be extremely grateful for the opportunity to discuss this with you directly.

Yours sincerely,  

Tim Hancock

Campaigns Director

Amnesty International UK

Ian Davis

Director

BASIC

Lesley-Anne Knight

International Director

CAFOD

Geoffrey Dennis

Chief Executive

CARE International UK

Daleep Mukarji

Director

Christian Aid

Dr. Hany El Banna

President

Islamic Relief Worldwide

Marion Birch

Executive Director

Medact

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari

Secretary General

Muslim Council of Britain

Barbara Stocking

Director

Oxfam

Fiona Weir

Director of Policy and Communications

Save the Children

Keith Sonnet

Deputy General Secretary

UNISON

John Hilary

Campaigns and Policy Director

War on Want 

Caroline Qutteneh

Director

Welfare Association

Charles Badenoch

Chief Executive

World Vision UK