Bring Baroness Tonge back now

Please sign and circulate this petition now

Background
Baroness Jenny Tonge, a member of the House of Lords in the UK, has been under attack for the past few years as she supports freedom and justice for Palestinians. Just this week, she was dismissed from her position as spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats' shadow health minster.

She was fired after she commented on an article claiming that the Israeli medical team working in Haiti was once again implicated in organ theft. (You may recall that late last year, after widespread media reports exposing the crimes, the Israeli government reversed its earlier denials and admitted that organs had been stolen in the 1990s from dead or wounded Palestinian prisoners.) Baroness Tonge responded in a highly fair and ethical fashion, telling the Jewish Chronicle that, "Israel should investigate such claims and clear its reputation."

How much more measured and impartial could she be? Please demonstrate your support of Baroness Tonge, and insist on an end to the "hands-off" treatment of Israel. Please sign the petion through the link below, forward it to your friends and send a copy to the Leader of the Lib Dem Party Mr. Nick Clegg. Let's stand for justice, freedom and peace!

Please contact Nick Clegg to protest against his unfair action.

The petition states:
We, the undersigned, object to the dismissal of Baroness Jenny Tonge from her post as health spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats simply because she suggested that Israel investigate charges made against it.

The party's action is a serious threat to the principles for which our country is known – democracy and free speech. Even more specifically, it makes a mockery of your party's claim to "give power back to people." Instead of encouraging openness and the search for truth no matter how uncomfortable the accusation or who is accused, you are demonstrating to your constituents that the powerful and the "status quo" will be protected.

The comment for which you are punishing Jenny Tonge merely illustrated her commitment to your party's founding principles. An independent investigation would be the most ethical response to serious charges that Israel is continuing to practice an illegal act (organ theft) that it has already admitted to committing in earlier years.

By firing Baroness Tonge instead of backing her call for an investigation, or at least supporting her decision to do so, you make evident that the party only believes in the search for truth when powerful allies are not involved.

Please demonstrate that the Liberal Democrats are indeed – as your Web site states – "brave enough to make a fresh start." Reverse your decision and reinstate Jenny Tonge.

Please add your name to the petition here.