I urge you to vote yes on this coming Monday's (13/10/2014) motion
"That this House believes that the Government should recognise the
state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel."  I ask also that
that you vote against the amendment which may be heard by Parliament,
that this recognition should proceed only "on the conclusion of
successful peace negotiations between the Israeli government and the
Palestinian Authority."

Britain, more than any other state, holds a unique historical
responsibility for the current condition of Palestine.  Although the
British Mandate for Palestine asserted that "nothing should be done
which might prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing
non-Jewish communities in Palestine", in 1948 Britain failed to uphold
the rights of the Palestinian people.  We must not fail again.

Having accepted Palestine's right to statehood, Britain has no excuse
not to recognise Palestine, nor to kowtow to Israel's wishes in
delaying this recognition.  Recognition ought not to be a subject of
negotiation; it is, rather, a prerequisite for equitable and fair
negotiation.  Although Hamas have behaved despicably after their 2007
takeover of Gaza from the legitimate Fatah government of unified
Palestine, Israel's response to the bad actions of this terrorist group
have disproportionately harmed - and in some cases apparently targeted
- the civilian population.  Furthermore, Israel's continued
appropriation of Palestinian land in the West Bank makes negotiations
more and more difficult.  Britain's recognition of Palestinian
statehood would demonstrate to Israel that Britain is serious about an
equitable two-state solution.

As Backbench debates are not subject to party discipline, I realise
that you are especially free in this matter to vote according to the
opinions of your constituents and the dictates of your conscience.
Again I hope that you will vote for the motion and against any
amendments.