On 4 March we wrote to the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, to express our outrage at the military attacks taken by Israel and the Unites States on Iran and the use of UK bases. The people of the UK do not want to be involved in an illegal war in the Middle East. We encourage readers to use this as a template for your own letter to MPs and local press.
Dear Prime Minister
WILPF responds with horror to the unilateral military attacks on Iran by Israel and the USA
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF UK) responds with horror to the news of the unilateral military attacks by Israel and the USA on Iran. Diplomatic negotiations on a new nuclear deal were underway between the USA and Iran with mediators confirming that Iran had agreed to lower its stockpiles of nuclear material, yet the US and its warmongering ally, Israel, consider they can pre-empt negotiated outcomes and United Nations processes and use force against a sovereign state in a clear attempt to bring about regime change. Inevitably Iran has responded in kind.
These attacks violate international law and have already resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians, including children, and risk putting the whole region in a potential state of war threatening the lives of millions.
We note your statement indicating that the UK government had no military involvement in the US/Israeli action. WILPF considers this is disingenuous since the UK has continued to provide essential parts for F-35 bombers used to arm Israel in spite of the pleas from many UK non-governmental organisations, including WILPF, to cease arming Israel.
We object in the strongest possible terms that the USA has been allowed to use UK bases to launch airstrikes on Iran. We urge the government to withdraw this permission immediately and withdraw all support for this reckless and illegal aggression. The people of the UK do not want to be involved in an illegal war in the Middle East nor for the UK to pander to the wishes of warmongering and self-interested ‘allies’, the USA and Israel.
This action only serves to put the lives of millions of civilians – millions of us all – at risk of increased danger and insecurity. Diplomacy is the only way peace can be achieved. The British government must condemn these illegal attacks, refuse to get involved, and immediately take diplomatic action with other European and Middle Eastern leaders to help stop this war.
We attach a statement from WILPF International – WILPF Calls for Immediate Ceasefire and Compliance with International Law – which ends with these words: “…’security’ built on militarism is both fragile and false. True security is demilitarised and grounded in the rule of law.”1
Yours in peace
Fiona McOwan, National Secretary, for WILPF UK Executive Committee
