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21 Sep, 2015

PSC Thailand protests to British Embassy about Israeli Prime Minister’s visit to UK

Bangkok – On Tuesday 15 September 2015, a delegation from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) Thailand, including Chairperson Nick Ferriman, Secretary Ian Hollingworth, and BDS Co-ordinator Ghislain Poissonnier, delivered a letter of protest to Second Secretary Daniel Fieller at the British Embassy in Bangkok. The letter, addressed to the UK Foreign Minister Phillip Hammond, denounced the official visit of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to London on 9th September 2015.

The letter outlined the war crimes and acts of international piracy committed by Israel during Netanyahu’s tenure as prime minister. In particular, the deaths of over 2,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, by Israeli forces last summer were highlighted, along with the on-going eight-year blockade of Gaza and the illegal settlement construction in the West Bank.

The letter also noted that the UK’s unconditional support of Israel was part of the UK’s wider policy objectives in the region. The destabilization of the Middle East by these policies has now reached the shores of Thailand. 350 Palestinian refugees from Syria, stateless once more, live a hand-to-mouth existence in Bangkok in fear of arrest.

The letter requested there be no more official invitations extended to Netanyahu, and should he come on private business to the UK after he relinquishes power, that he be arrested for war crimes.

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Nick Ferriman, left, with British Embassy second secretary Daniel Fieller.