A COUNCILLOR has called on Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to bring his political muscle to bear, in an effort to resolve the Palestinian crisis.

Jordanian-born Karimeh Foster said she is deeply concerned at the current, desperate situation, which she first raised with the Blackburn MP at an Ewood Park human rights conference earlier this year.

Councillor Foster, who lives in Darwen, said that at the time Mr Straw was Home Secretary ande did not have direct responsibility for overseas issues.

In a letter to his London office, Councillor Foster says he now has that responsibility and urges him to act swiftly to end the 'desperate situation' which is causing "much grief and suffering to all communities in the troubled land."

"It is clear nothing will change without external pressure and it is time for the British Government, in conjunction with the European Union, to play a much greater role," she writes.

Councillor Foster asks Mr Straw to clarify whether arms are being exported from Britain to Israel, which, she says, would be in contravention of United Nations resolutions.

Mr Straw was unavailable for comment.