Civil Society and Public Welfare in the West Bank

I am appalled at the recent closure by the PA of charitable and voluntary organizations, including at least one Christian one in Bethlehem. This is bound to result in greater hardship for children and other very vulnerable people.

 I understand that this action has been taken because the groups or people associated with them are suspected of links with Hamas. Can you say what evidence or proof exists to support these suspicions?

This action is being taken at a time when Fatah, as a political party, remains largely unreformed. It has also been carried out in a high-handed and violent way, damaging buildings and their contents. What, I ask, is supposed to happen to the assets of the organizations concerned?

You have rightly complained about and denounced the iniquities and injustices of the Israeli occupying forces; what is it that your own people are now doing?

The situation mentioned above has been aggravated by the dismissal by the PA of teachers and other providers of front-line social services, solely because they cannot provide a “certificate of good conduct”, or are suspected by the Intelligence Services of links with Hamas. The result of this will be larger classes in schools and worse conditions for many children, who will have even greater difficulties in learning and maturing. (This is not to mention health and social services.)

If you value our friendship, which now goes back over several years, I urge you to report my extreme concern to the PA. Please note that I am putting down a string of Questions to our government, because I believe that the actions taken may contravene the conditions on which aid has been granted to the PA, whether directly or through the EU. It is also likely that the dismissal of employees breaches international labour standards.

I am copying this letter to the Foreign Office and to the media.