Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
(Peterborough) (Con)
1. What diplomatic steps he is taking to help support the
de-escalation of violence in Israel and the
Occupied Palestinian Territories.
(Bradford East) (Lab)
2. What recent assessment he has made of the implications for his
policies of illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
(Bedford) (Lab)
3. What assessment he has made of the implications for his
policies of recent violence in Israel and
Palestine.
(Dulwich and West Norwood)
(Lab)
15. What assessment he has made of the implications for his
policies of recent violence in Israel and
Palestine.
(Meon Valley) (Con)
19. What steps his Department is taking to help secure peace
in Israel and the Occupied
Palestinian Territories.
(Birkenhead) (Lab)
22. What assessment he has made of the implications for his
policies of recent violence in Israel and
Palestine.
(Leeds East) (Lab)
23. What assessment he has made of the implications for his
policies of recent violence in Israel and
Palestine.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Affairs ()
The accelerating cycle of violence in the west bank is a cause of
enormous concern, and the Government are intensely focused on the
situation. While the UK firmly supports Israel’s right to defend
itself and its citizens against terrorism, we urge
the Israel Defence Forces
to demonstrate restraint, adhere to the principles of
international humanitarian law and ensure that civilians are
protected. The UK’s position on settlements is clear: settlements
are illegal under international law and call into question
Israel’s commitment to the two-state solution.
Regrettably, a lasting peace deal seems as far away as ever. In
2023, dozens of Palestinian children have been killed in Israeli
military operations. We should never become immune to the tragedy
of those deaths, but will the Minister urge the Israeli
Government to show compassion and restraint and urge all sides to
put respect for human life first?
My hon. Friend makes an important point. Every one of those
deaths is tragic and a real tragedy. In the annual “Human Rights
and Democracy Report” published by the FCDO last week, the OPTs
were identified as a human rights priority. The UK will continue
to oppose violations and abuse of international human rights law
and international humanitarian law by the Government
of Israel the Palestinian
Authority and Hamas, including through our ongoing support for
civil society actors. It is vital work.
Seven years ago in this very Chamber, I raised the case of
68-year-old Nora and her family, who faced being forced out of
their home by Israeli settlers. Despite international opposition,
last week she was tragically dragged from her home of more than
seven decades. If this case is not it, what is the Government’s
red line? How many more Palestinian grandmothers must be forcibly
evicted? Will the Minister stand by the words of his own former
Prime Minister and leader, , who told me on that day
seven years ago that what we are seeing in occupied East
Jerusalem is now more than an expansion of illegal settlements,
but an “encirclement”?
Demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their homes cause
unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and call into
question Israel’s commitment to a viable two-state solution. In
all but the most exceptional cases, demolition by an occupying
power is contrary to international humanitarian law. Lord Ahmad
has raised this case with the Israeli ambassador and made it
clear that we urge Israel to reconsider
forthcoming evictions.
This year has already been the deadliest for violence in the west
bank since 2005. The expansion of illegal settlements keeps on
growing. The UK Government now have the presidency of the UN
Security Council. Will the Minister commit to supporting an
International Criminal Court investigation into the killing of
innocent Palestinians and suspend all arms sales to Israel until it abides
by international law?
We are using our powers as president of the UN Security Council
to convene and bring people together. We are concerned about the
ongoing deterioration of the situation. We continue to monitor
the situation on the ground with our international allies.
Earlier this year, I was privileged to visit healthcare
facilities supported by Medical Aid for Palestinians in the west
bank. This week, it has taken the unprecedented step of providing
bulletproof vests and helmets to medical workers in the west bank
because of an increase in the attacks they are facing. In last
week’s urgent question on violence in the west bank, the Minister
of State, the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed () announced that the
Minister responsible for the middle east and north Africa, Lord
Ahmad, would be speaking to the Israeli ambassador to demand that
access to medical care is allowed according to Israel’s
obligations under international law. Can the Minister set out
what assurances he has received from the Israeli authorities that
violations against healthcare workers and barriers to health
access in the west bank will be brought to an end?
Lord Ahmad did meet the Israeli official and talked through the
importance of this matter. As the hon. Lady rightly highlights,
international humanitarian law requires military forces to allow
medical access in order to evacuate and treat the wounded. We are
always urging Israel to live up to
those important requirements.
Mrs Drummond
This year has seen the highest number on record of settlements in
the west bank. In just the first half of 2023, the Israeli
Government promoted 12,855 housing units and 10 new outposts. The
total number of settlers in the west bank is now 750,000. This is
contrary to international law and further displaces many
Palestinian families as their houses and land are taken away. How
will that help the peace process? What are the Government doing
to uphold international law?
That is an important question. As was laid out in the Foreign
Secretary’s trilateral statement with the Foreign Ministers of
Australia and Canada on 30 June, the continued expansion of
settlements is an obstacle to peace and negatively impacts
efforts to achieve a negotiated two-state solution. We call on
the Government of Israel to reverse these
decisions, and we have continued to do that with the Foreign
Secretary speaking to his counterpart on 5 July.
In the first five months of 2023, the United Nations recorded 475
instances of settler-related violence resulting in casualties or
property damage, which was the highest daily average since 2006.
What plans has the Minister got to request that the Israeli
Authorities take action to prevent settler violence against
Palestinians? As the settlements are considered to be illegal
under international law, will he commit to a ban on the
importation of settlement goods as has been done with goods
arising from other breaches of international law?
We welcome the joint statement from the heads of
the Israel Defence Force,
the Israeli Security Agency and Israeli police as well as
statements by other Israeli leaders that condemn these criminal
acts. We call on the authorities to ensure accountability for all
perpetrators of violence. It is important that words are turned
into actions.
Back in 2016, I was part of a parliamentary delegation that
visited the Sub Laban family in their home of 70 years in the
occupied old city of Jerusalem. Last week, Israel forcibly evicted
them to make way for illegal settlers, as has been replicated
time after time across occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of
the west bank. How many such violations of international law
by Israel will have to
take place before the Government act, including by banning UK
trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories, as organisations such as Oxfam, Amnesty
International and Human Rights Watch have called for?
As I said, we are concerned about demolitions and evictions of
Palestinians, which call into question Israel’s commitment to a
viable two-state solution. We are pushing for it to reconsider
forthcoming evictions.
(Bromley and Chislehurst)
(Con)
For those of us who are friends of Israel—and proud to be—one of
its strengths has been its independent judiciary, which has on
occasion struck down arbitrary action by Israeli authorities.
Will the Minister say, as friends, to his Israeli counterparts
when he next meets them that any proposals that might reduce the
independence of the judiciary in Israel would not
help Israel’s cause, would not help stability in the region and
would make it harder for its friends to advocate for its
cause?
I understand my hon. Friend’s important point. We endorse the
words of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who is seeking a
compromise. He recently said:
“In the midst of a deep and worrisome crisis, the responsible act
of leadership must be to sit and talk”.
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
(Con)
What makes this latest tragic wave of violence even more
concerning is the emergence of new terror groups in the
Palestinian territories such as the Lions’ Den and the Jenin
Brigades alongside Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, coupled
with the seeming loss of control of the Palestinian Authority.
Does my hon. Friend share my concern about the influence of
outside actors—namely Iran—in enabling and encouraging violence
in the region?
My right hon. Friend makes an incredibly important point. The
actions of Iran are abhorrent and causing all sorts of challenges
in regional instability, and they need to be called out.
(Henley) (Con)
Recently published documents reveal an ambitious peace project to
establish a continuous land bridge directly
connecting Israel to Jordan and
other Arab states. What steps is the Foreign Office taking to
support our middle east allies on this welcome peace project?
We welcome all steps to help move forward with the middle east
peace process and follow those particular points with
interest.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Tottenham) (Lab)
The Minister will have heard the strength of feeling across the
House this morning. Recently in Israel and the
Occupied Palestinian Territories we have seen new illegal
settlements announced, increasing violence and terrorist attacks
and a rise in civilian deaths. All those steps imperil a
two-state solution, yet the Government’s focus has been on their
ill-conceived and badly designed Economic Activity of Public
Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill. Reports suggest that our
diplomats warned Ministers that it would breach our obligations
under UN resolution 2334. Is that true? If so, why is the
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the
right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (), undermining UK foreign
policy?
The shadow Secretary of State is correct that these are really
concerning issues and there is a lot of passion on both sides of
the House. The Government’s position was agreed by the FCDO and
all relevant Government Departments. The Secretary of State for
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has written to the Chair of
the Foreign Affairs Committee on that issue.
Topical
Questions
(Gedling) (Con)
T2. In April three members of the British-Israeli Dee family
were killed in an appalling terror attack. The Palestinian
Authority continues to proudly send hundreds of millions of
pounds to the terrorists behind these very same attacks. Will my
right hon. Friend join me in condemning this grotesque “pay for
slay” policy?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Affairs ()
The UK has not directly funded the Palestinian Authority since
official development assistance reprioritisation in 2021. We do
not fund prisoners’ payments and we believe that the prisoner
payment system should be reformed so that it is needs-based,
transparent and affordable. We continue to raise this at the
highest levels with the Palestinian Authority.
