(Manchester, Gorton) (Lab) [V]: I
too welcome today’s statement. Israeliannexations
are a violation of international law and jeopardise any chance of a
two-state solution. I would like to believe that a two-state
solution is not a lost cause, but that is only possible if we speak
up. I urge the Government to take action and condemn violations
such as the recent bulldozing of a historic Muslim cemetery in
Jaffa. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that such contempt for
international law warrants sanctions? If not, could he please
explain his reasoning?
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and
First Secretary of State (): We certainly oppose not just
the settlement building but other violations of international
humanitarian law. The hon. Gentleman may have seen the letter
that the Prime Minister recently published in the
Israeli press, which made it clear that we are
not giving up on a two-state solution. We oppose annexation and
we want both parties to come to the table and negotiate a lasting
settlement.
(Argyll and Bute) (SNP) [V]: Can the Foreign Secretary
assure the House that the application of the sanctions regime
will be transparently even-handed and will not be blind to human
rights abuses carried out by or in the name of our so-called
allies and friends such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain,
Israel or India, or indeed countries with which
we are seeking to secure a post-Brexit trade deal?
: If the hon. Gentleman looks
at the designations, he will see that we have answered that in
the first round that we are making today.
