UK and rest of the EU must stand up for Gaza, Liz Lynne tells Himilo Mosque

12.16.27pm GMT Tue 24th Feb 2009

From left to rights: Mosque Volunteer, Mustate Dahir; Hodge Hill campaigner, Hakil Ahmed; Mosque Volunteer, Ishmael Ali; Cllr Zaker Choudhry; Liz Lynne MEP; Cllr Shaukat Ali Khan; Cllr Gwyn Neilly; Asad Mehmood and children from the Mosque.

The UK and the rest of the European Union must stand up to Israel over the continued blockade of the Gaza Strip, LibDem Euro MP Liz Lynne told members of the Himilo Mosque in Birmingham on Friday.

The West Midlands MEP, a member of the European Parliament's Human Rights Committee, addressed the community members at the mosque in Bordesley Green after Friday prayers. In her speech she talked about her recent work in the European Parliament in calling for Israel to be held to account for its actions. In recent weeks the Parliament has passed a number of resolutions calling for humanitarian aid to the people of the Gaza Strip and an end to the blockade.

Liz Lynne said:

"I was pleased that the latest resolution on the Gaza blockade passed in Parliament this week received such overwhelming, cross-party support. I would have liked it to have been stronger in its criticism of Israel's recent actions but the text was written to gain the widest possible backing from political parties who would not normally have voted for it.

"It is vital that Israel lifts it's illegal blockade of the Gaza border and allows aid and resources through. We must do all we can to bring to an end Israel's collective punishment of the Palestinian people and promote a negotiated peace process."

Liz also talked about the financial crisis that has hit local businesses in Birmingham saying:

"The government must take action not only to stop the banks collapsing but to promote the conditions for businesses in Birmingham and nationally to recover.

"Nick Clegg and Vince Cable are right to stress that now is the time for investment in green technology to create jobs and kickstart the changes we need to make the economy sustainable in the long term.

"The UK needs to retain our close ties with other European countries if we are to survive the current crisis. The UK and the rest of Europe are stronger together. Small nations outside the EU like Iceland and Norway are in an even deeper economic mess. Co-ordinated action with our closest trading allies and supporting and learning from each other is the best way to bring about an early recovery."

Liz Lynne was accompanied to the mosque by local Liberal Democrat councillors Shaukat Ali Khan, Gwyn Neilly and Zaker Choudhry.

The Himilo Mosque in Blake Lane opened seven months ago to serve the Somali community in Bordesley Green. It currently provides regular homework clubs and family gatherings for its members and is planning to begin alternative education courses for children new to the community until they find a local school.