The Foreign Affairs Committee is today (Monday 18 December)
publishing written evidence received for its inquiry into the
UK’s engagement with the Middle East and North
Africa.
This evidence includes a submission from the Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on its approach to the
countries in the region.
The FCDO calls for a “a political solution to the
Israeli/Palestinian conflict: a two-state solution, which
provides justice and security for both Israelis and
Palestinians”. The Department says it wants to see “both Israelis
and Palestinians safe and secure, not living in the fear of
terrorism, and in peaceful proximity.”
The Department says it has “thickened and broadened our defence
cooperation with key allies particularly with Israel and the
Gulf, in recent years”.
It says that “this has been focused on regional security, defence
collaboration and countering extremism as well as specific issues
such as Royal Navy vessels intercepting weapons shipments
destined for the Houthis in Yemen”.
The Committee is also today (Monday 18 December) holding its
first evidence session with , now of Chipping Norton, in his new
role as Foreign Secretary. Cameron is likely to face questions on
his key priorities for the Department, as well as the current
conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The Committee has also published evidence from a range of
organisations and individuals, including:
- National Council of Resistance of Iran
- The British Council
- Redress
- Jewish Leadership Council
- International Centre of Justice for Palestinians
- Amnesty
- BBC World Service
- Alliance for Middle East Peace
- Professor Anoush Ehteshami, Durham University
- European Leadership Network UK
- Professor , Queen Mary University of
London and Michael Stephens, Royal United Services Institute
According to the Alliance for Middle East Peace, the “UK could
lead in convening donors and allies to discuss civil society
peacebuilding at Ministerial level”. The evidence says that the
UK can draw upon “its unmatched expertise in the Middle East and
conflict resolution in Northern Ireland, as well as its
diplomatic strengths as a key convener”.
The European Leadership Network UK states that “many countries
across this region are concerned by perceived American drift away
from the Middle East and the fear of being left alone to fight
Iran”. The evidence says that “the UK must coordinate actions and
messages with its European and American allies... to prevent
these countries from turning to Russia or China to fill a
perceived void”.
Meanwhile, Professor Anoush Ehteshami highlights the region’s
“profound food insecurity”, saying that “a regime that cannot
even feed its own people is dangerously exposed”.
Academics Christopher Phillips and Michael Stevens say that the
UK needs to be “more realistic and less ambitious in its
engagement with the Middle East... a recognition of its limited
capacity and to be more selective”.
Monday 18 December, 13.20:
· of Chipping Norton – Secretary
of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
· Sir Philip Robert Barton –
Permanent Under-Secretary at the FCDO
