Jack Straw rejects Arms Ban on Israel

Blackburn Labour MP and former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has rejected Blackburn Council's motion asking for an Arms' Ban on Israel. The Liberal Democrat proposal, which received all-party support at a recent Council Meeting, called on Jack Straw to use his influence to ask the Cabinet to introduce such a ban.

Local Lib Dem Leader, Cllr David Foster, said " I am extremely disappointed that he is unwilling to back his colleague Janet Anderson. 10,000 people demonstrated in Blackburn to show their opposition to Israel and they were calling on the government to act."

"In his letter Mr Straw says he does not think this sanction will held the prospects of peace in the Middle east. The failure to put effective pressure on Israel his been the biggest barrier to a just peace in the Middle East."

Jack Straw letter