Five years ago the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the Separation Wall being built by Israel in the Occupied West Bank is illegal. The ICJ's opinion stated that Israel must cease its construction, dismantle the Wall and make reparations for the damage caused by it. The ICJ also ruled that no state may aid or assist the maintenance of the Wall and that all states that are party to the IV Geneva Convention are obliged to ensure compliance by Israel with international humanitarian law.

Yet for the past five years Israel has continued construction of the Wall in defiance of international law. The Wall rips through the West Bank, cutting off Palestinians' access to water, farmland and emergency services. More than 260,000 Palestinians face displacement due to the Wall's construction. The international community has largely ignored international law with respect to Israel's crimes. Instead the British government and other nations have rewarded Israeli aggression with financial, military and diplomatic support.

I urge you to write to the Foreign Secretary to demand the suspension of the trading preferences which Israel enjoys under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Article 2 of the Agreement makes Israel's trading preferences dependent on respect for human rights, a condition which UN specialists claim Israel has often breached. Unless political pressure is placed on Israel to cease violating international law, Palestinians will face increasing human rights abuses and be plunged deeper into poverty.

Yours sincerely,