Dear Rishi,

I am writing to you to express dismay that your government plans to move the UK embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem; that you have not spoken out against this move.

Many constituents in Haslingden and Hyndburn are appalled at this decision by this Conservative government.

I urge you to u-turn on this decision.

Your government’s diplomatic move is in breach of international obligations and would be in breach of the government’s international obligations.

Your prime minister announced she was considering relocating the embassy following a meeting with the Israeli prime minister, Yair Lapid on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in September. The announcement drew criticism from Arab diplomats in the UK.

These measures, which include Israel’s enactment of Basic Law 1980 declaring that Jerusalem is Israel’s “complete and united” capital, have been repeatedly declared invalid by the UN general assembly and the UN security council.

The opinion says the UN security council has affirmed that the enactment of Basic Law 1980 constitutes a violation of international law and that there are strong grounds to conclude the move would violate the UK’s obligations under the Geneva conventions, which require the UK to do everything in its power to ensure respect for those conventions by other states and non-state parties to a conflict.

More importantly, it is vital that the international community remains united in seeking a two-state solution and justice and self-determination for the Palestinian people. Your government should u-turn on this commitment and return to a commitment towards a two-party solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, and oppose any approach that undermines this prospect.

Kind regards,

Graham