The Government should urgently clarify its
position on Israel’s planned annexation of Palestinian
territories and consider limiting Israel’s preferential access to
UK markets if the annexation goes ahead, the House of Lords
International Relations and Defence Committee has said.
The Committee has written to foreign office minister,
, expressing concern over
Israel’s intention to annex occupied areas.
In its letter, the committee has asked for an urgent
Government response to the following points:
-
Reassurances – does the UK position
remain unchanged, that annexation of Palestinian territories
occupied since 1967 violates international law, jeopardises the
peace process and that changes cannot be taken forward without
an agreement negotiated by the parties
themselves?
-
Action – what will be done to
re-engage parties in the peace process? How will parties be
brought back to negotiations in support of a two- state
solution?
-
Consequences – if Israel were to
proceed with its planned annexation, what would be the
consequences for its preferential access to the UK market? How
would the UK distinguish between legal and illegal products for
Israeli exports to the UK?
The committee has also reiterated the relevance of
conclusions and recommendations from its
report, the Middle East: time for new
realism, published in May 2017. These
conclusions included:
-
A negotiated two-state outcome remains the only way
to achieve enduring peace.
-
The continuing Israeli policy of the expansion of
settlements is illegal and an impediment to
peace.
-
The Government should be more forthright in stating
its views on these issues and Europe should play a more active
role, despite the views of the US administration.
-
If Israel continues to reduce the possibilities of
a two-state solution, the UK should be ready to support UNSC
resolutions condemning those actions.
To see the full letter go to:
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/360/international-relations-and-defence-committee/publications/3/correspondence/
Notes to editors:
-
The committee is chaired by .
-
The Committee’s report The Middle East:
time for new realism is available
online here
