Plaid Cymru politicians today stressed the need for urgent ceasefire in the Middle East. Jill Evans MEP, Plaid’s International spokesperson, and Elfyn Llwyd MP, the party’s Westminster spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, said that ceasefire must come before any long term planning.
Speaking today Jill Evans, who visited Lebanon in March, said:
"The indiscriminate bombing of Lebanon and Gaza by the Israeli government is going on unabated, the offensive of Hezbollah continues. This means that death and destruction continue as the international community watches. Whatever the complications and the difficulties of this crisis, the priority now is an immediate ceasefire.
“The news came yesterday of the killings of at least 54 innocent people in Qana – many of them children. Innocent civilians are being targeted and whole populations are being punished because of the actions of a few in Hezbollah.
"The European Union has to put all its weight to reach this goal and speak with a single voice to Israel, to Lebanon and Palestine, and this means putting pressure on UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who seems to be the one failing to respond to this urgent need. Tomorrow EU Foreign Ministers are meeting in an emergency summit. I hope that they will insist upon an immediate ceasefire.”
Elfyn Llwyd added:
“Urgent ceasefire is a must to stop the killing, to allow access to humanitarian aid and to create space to negotiate peace. Too many people have already died, and with every day that ceasefire is delayed many more will die. This must be the priority of governments. They can talk about long-term plans later.
“There is no justification under international law for the targeting of civilians, and that is why the UK Government and other western countries must stand strong and enforce disarming in the Middle East.”
Both Jill Evans and Elfyn Llwyd praised Gwynedd Council for their action in passing an emergency motion calling on Tony Blair to join the international community to appeal for a quick ceasefire in Lebanon and surrounding areas. They urged other councils to follow suit and bring more and more pressure to bear on the UK government.
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