The Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine website

Who we are

Our aims
The Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine exist to fight for the rights of the Palestinian People through the medium of the Liberal Democrat Party. The party's core values of liberalism, internationalism and support for the indivisibility of human rights and the rule of law make it the natural home in mainstream British politics for those determined to support the Palestinian call for justice and their entitlements under international law.

We currently support the ‘two state solution': for an independent and viable Palestinian state, and security for both parties. We therefore call on Israel to renounce all claims to occupied land and to halt all illegal settlement building. If Israel is unwilling to do this, there will come a point at which ‘the one state solution', under which Israel will need to offer all Palestinians citizenship in a single, secular State, will become the only possible way forward. This may be very soon.

We reject accusations of anti-Semitism against party members, organisations or other individuals within and outside the Liberal Democrat Party because they criticize Israeli government policies. We categorically reject all forms of violence against civilians (including the disproportionate use of force) no matter who the perpetrators and the victims may be. We oppose all forms of racism including anti-Arab racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.

What we do
We lobby within the party on behalf of Palestinian rights to ensure that the Party's Middle East policy places a priority on the right of the Palestinian people to a life of well-being, peace and security.

What we have achieved so far
Our input has influenced the party to adopt policies calling for the British government to place an embargo on arms sales to Israel, on the UN to establish an international tribunal with power to prosecute the perpetrators of war crimes arising out of the Gaza conflict last winter, and on the EU to investigate whether Israel is in enduring breach of its Association Agreement. We are also delighted that Ed Davey, our shadow foreign secretary, has called on the UN to act on the Goldstone report.

We exist solely on members' subscriptions, voluntary donations and sales of pamphlets etc. Our income has not yet exceeded £2,000 in any one year.

Our officers:

John McHugo, Chair

Sally Fitzharris, Secretary

Ahmad Mallick, Treasurer

Peter Dulieu, Membership secretary

Jonathan Fryer, Press Officer

Membership Application

Membership is open to anyone who is a Party member and who wants to support efforts for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. We ask for a minimum donation of £10 and anything above that amount will be gratefully received and faithfully applied.

To apply, please send the following information to info@ldfp.eu and we will contact you:

Name:

Party Membership Number:

Party District:

Address including Postcode:

Contact us

For any other enquiries or information, please e-mail info@ldfp.eu