Many of the complaints that I received about the posting of this email testimony revealed deeply intrenched and intolerant views and a refusal to accept that Israel is breaking international law and also responsible for many breaches of the human rights of Palestinian people. A number of these communications expressed the wish that harm should come to me and many accused me of being anti-Semitic though it is clear that they had not bothered to read other material covering the Middle East conflict, including my condemnation of the suicide bombings perpetrated against Israeli people.

The publicity given to my website as a result of these complaints then resulted in my being bombarded by equally intolerant views from supposed supporters of the Palestinian side.  I feel we will never make progress in resolving conflicts like that in Palestine/Israel without an understanding of the causes of the appalling hatred that exists. It seems to start with one group of people labelling another of different ethnic origins or religious beliefs as somehow less than human and I am very sorry if the material on my website has been used to justify such attitudes. Whilst I must of course take responsiblity for the contents of my website and any adverse effects that result from it, the reality is that people’s daily experience in the Occupied Territories and in the aftermath of suicide bombings will have a far greater impact than any material on an MP’s website.  I call on all people of goodwill to press the Israeli Government to adhere to international humanitarian laws and standards and for those who wish to see Israel withdraw to its 1967 boundaries to maintain the right of Israeli citizens to live in peace without the constant threat of violence and death.

I was shocked at the contents of the email report realting to the rape of members of one family in Bethlehem and in the context of the other war crimes reported from the Occupied Territories I considered this report worth taking seriously. I do not think that we can ignore such reports when we are daily hearing accounts of grave human rights abuses, apparently condoned by the Israeli Government. I wrote to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to ask them to investigate the report and I was explicit that the report had not been authenticated.

Amnesty International has stated that evidence compiled from the Occupied Territories regarding the actions of the Israeli Defence Force "indicates that serious breaches of international human rights and humanitarian law were committed, including war crimes". With regard to the terrible scenes reported in April from Jenin, during a debate on 16 April, Ben Bradshaw, in his role as Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office reported that:

It is of grave concern that the investigation of reported human rights abuses in the Occupied Territories has been blocked.  Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have indicated that major human rights abuses tantamount to war crimes may have taken place in Jenin.  Yet Israel refused to allow a UN fact finding mission.  

As long as Israel continues its illegal occupation and military offensive, including the prevention of humanitarian assistance on the West Bank and Gaza, as reported by UNICEF, I will continue to highlight the effects of these actions on the Palestinian people.

I have also signed Commons motions condemning anti-semitic attacks such as desecrations of cemeteries (for example see EDM 1223) and I make it clear on my website, that I condemn the attacks on Israeli citizens perpetrated by suicide bombers.  I can fully understand the fear that these dreadful attacks provoke in innocent people trying to live a normal life. However, Israeli action so far is more likely to encourage rather than prevent further atrocities.