This is an urgent action agreed upon at tonight's LFOP monthly meeting.  I'll explain briefly:
 
In the last week the LFOP-Bil'in link group has received 4 urgent emails from our contact, Eyad Burnat, in Bil'in telling us of terrifying night raids on the village, the ransacking of homes and the abduction of at least 7 teenage boys.  As yet we have no news that their parents know of their whereabouts.  Bil'in regularly suffers from these dead-of-night incursions but they are particularly intense now.
 
The Bil'in group will be meeting next week to discuss what our response should be in more depth, but right now we have all agreed to get as many protest letters sent as possible both to the British government and the Israeli authorities.  As an interim measure therefore we  are asking everyone to write a brief personal email/letter to the British Foreign Secretary, the Israeli Ambassador and the Israeli Minister of Defence whose contact details are as follows:
 
David Miliband:   private.office@...
Ron Prosor, Israeli Ambassador:  ambassador@...
Ehud Barak, Israeli Minister of Defence:  ehudb@...
 
A copy of my letter (written in the name of our Chair) to David Miliband is attached for guidance (everyone at tonight's meeting signed this), but your letters need not be so long.  Emails with similar wording were sent this afternoon to all 3 men.  If possible will you also send copies to your MP and appeal for their concern and involvement  (you'll find their details on the website  www.theyworkforyou.com).  Please will you also forward this appeal to your own contacts to increase the flow of letters.
 
Let's flood them and show solidarity with our suffering friends in Bil'in.  It's the least we can do.
 
Many thanks
 
Gwen

3rd July 09