Gaza raids disproportionate say LibDems

12.00.00am GMT Sun 4th Jan 2009

Many Liberal Democrats marched with protesters to stop the killing.

Speaking at today's Preston rally for Gaza, LibDem Euro candidate Qassim Afzal spoke out against the bombings. Qassim commented that "The EU can send a clear signal to Israel and suspend a new co-operation agreement between the EU and Israel.

The proposed agreement, due to be voted on in the European Parliament later this month, would give Israel access to EU funding programmes which in some areas are only enjoyed by full members of the EU.

With the US administration hobbled by the transition between Presidents, it is time for the EU to act. The EU has enormous potential leverage in the Middle East as a major donor of aid to the Palestinian community and the main market for Israeli exports".

Preston's LibDem Parliamentary Spokesman, Mark Jewell, added, "Whilst the rocket attacks by Hamas are totally unacceptable, the Israel reaction is utterly disproportionate. Gaza is facing a humanitarian catastrophe leaving women and children dead and thousands of innocent people suffering.

I believe the only sustainable solution will be one of two separate Israeli and Palestinian states. Each must respect the democratic legitimacy of each others governments and the right of each other to exist".