East Jerusalem: Forced
Evictions and Dispossessions
(Sunderland Central) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart
on forced evictions and dispossessions in East Jerusalem.
The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa ()
The United Kingdom provides legal aid to vulnerable Palestinian
communities at threat of demolition. In 96% of cases, those
receiving UK-funded legal support have remained in their homes.
The UK ambassador joined ambassadors of European states to urge
the Government of Israel to cease demolitions. He attended a
meeting with Israeli authorities on 25 February. At the United
Nations Security Council on 26 February, the UK permanent
representative called on Israel to end demolitions of Palestinian
homes and allow the delivery of emergency humanitarian aid.
[V]
I, like many colleagues, have heard repeated stories from
Palestinians who are facing forced eviction, dispossession and
demolition of their homes in areas such as Sheikh Jarrah, Silwan
and Issawiya in occupied East Jerusalem. I and many other people
see that as a deliberate attempt to re-engineer the demographic
make-up of occupied East Jerusalem. What more can the Government
do, rather than just urge the Israeli Government to stop it? What
more can the British Government do to bring an end to this
unacceptable situation?
The United Kingdom has a close and productive working
relationship with Israel. When we speak, the Israelis absolutely
do listen. The hon. Lady dismisses our urgings, but I remind her
that the UK’s voice has had an influence on decisions made by the
Government of Israel. We will continue to engage, as my right
hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did very recently with his
counterpart Foreign Minister Ashkenazi and the Israeli ambassador
to the Court of St James’s only last month.
Israel and the
Palestinians: Support for Peace
(Wrexham) (Con)
What diplomatic steps he is taking to support peace between
Israel and the Palestinians.
(Stoke-on-Trent North) (Con)
What diplomatic steps he is taking to support peace between
Israel and the Palestinians.
The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa ()
The UK is actively encouraging both parties back to dialogue. As
I just mentioned, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met
his opposite number on 10 February. I spoke to the Palestinian
head of mission here in the UK on 2 February. The UK has been
working with both the Government of Israel and the Palestinian
Authority, alongside the United States and international key
partners, to progress specific areas of co-operation, including
water and gas provision, energy infrastructure and trade
facilitation. We are also seeking to re-establish formal
Israeli-Palestinian mechanisms, such as the joint economic
committee and its relevant sub-committees.
The International Criminal Court’s controversial determination on
jurisdiction relating to Israel and the Palestinians not only
undermines the middle east peace process but heightens the
exposure of our armed forces to vexatious claims by setting a
precedent that non-state actors can initiate proceedings. What
steps is the Minister taking to ensure that the UK is at the
forefront of reforms of the ICC?
The UK respects the ICC’s independence, but we are working with
other countries to bring about positive change within the court.
The UK was instrumental in the establishment of the independent
expert review, which reported in September, together with other
state parties. Additionally, the UK is driving forward reforms to
governance, prosecutorial excellence, and a more rigorous
approach to budget control and value for money.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I do hope Madam Deputy Speaker will be
pleased that I have a jacket accompanying my jumper today.
It has been almost a year since my right hon. Friend expressed
his hopes that the European Union would produce a balanced and
independent report into the Palestinian Authority’s school
curriculum, which contains shocking material inciting violence
against Israel and Jews. What steps will the Government take if
the long-awaited report, due for publication this month, falls
short of the required standard?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this point and for the
consistent approach that he has taken to this issue. We remain
concerned about the allegations in Palestinian Authority
textbooks and have lobbied European partners to bring forward
their report in a timely manner. I have also discussed the issue
directly with the Palestinian Authority’s representative in the
UK, and we have regular discussions with the EU to encourage it
to get this report into the public domain. In the interim, the UK
will continue to raise our concerns bilaterally with the
Palestinian Authority at the very highest levels.
Occupied Palestinian
Territories: Humanitarian Situation
(Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)
What recent assessment the Government have made of the
humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
(Hammersmith) (Lab)
If he will maintain the level of the UK’s funding contribution to
the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
(Edinburgh South West) (SNP)
What recent assessment the Government have made of the
humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa ()
The UK remains concerned about the fragile humanitarian situation
in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, particularly in Gaza.
The UK is providing £4.5 million in humanitarian assistance to
the OPTs, including £1 million to the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency’s emergency appeal and £2.5 million to the World
Food Programme for cash assistance. The UK supports UNRWA as a
vital humanitarian force in the region and the FCDO is running a
prioritisation exercise across all its programmes to ensure that
every pound goes as far as possible.
[V]
The Minister rightly highlights forced evictions and demolitions
breaking international law, but none the less, Israel continues
with its evictions in Sheikh Jarrah and Batan al-Hawa. The
proposed construction of 1,200 houses at Givat HaMatos is out to
tender at the moment. Action is needed, not just words, so when
will the UK Government implement trade bans on goods from illegal
settlements? The UK’s position on this issue is long standing and
clear. We oppose the points that the hon. Gentleman has put
forward. We raise the issue of demolitions regularly with our
Israeli counterparts, and we will continue to do so at every
opportunity.
[V]
[Inaudible.]—aid budget implies the loss of a third in UNRWA
funding, and there are rumours that the Government could be
planning to cut twice that. UNRWA is responsible for almost 6
million Palestinian refugees, including the education of 500,000
children, the healthcare of 3 million and emergency food aid for
over 1 million. Because of the occupation, Palestinians in Gaza,
the west bank and surrounding countries rely on UNRWA for basic
public services, so will the Minister give a clear and courageous
answer and guarantee at least the current level of funding?
The UK Government regard UNWRA as an important partner in support
of the people in the OPTs and surrounding areas. We are going
through a prioritisation exercise at the moment, the outcome of
which will be published in due course.
[V]
As schools around the world deal with the challenges of the covid
pandemic, Palestinian schoolchildren face a further threat.
According to the United Nations, 53 Palestinian schools in the
occupied west bank are subject to Israeli Government demolition
orders. Does the Minister agree that demolishing any school is
wrong and that any such action should have consequences?
The UK regularly raises the issue of demolitions and our position
on this is clear. We will continue to do so, and we will continue
to highlight the importance of education, which remains one of
the Government’s priorities.
(Caerphilly) (Lab) [V]
The Israeli covid-19 vaccination programme is the best in the
world. However, the Minister has indicated that Israel has a
legal responsibility to ensure the health and wellbeing of
Palestinians on the west bank. Will he therefore join me in
urging the Israeli Government to work with the Palestinian
Authority to ensure that Palestinians are vaccinated, as well as
Israelis?
The UK is justifiably proud of the work it is doing on the
international stage with regard to vaccinations, including
through Gavi and the COVAX scheme. We are pleased to see the
Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority co-ordinating
their work with regard to vaccinations, and we look forward to
that vaccination programme rolling out not just across Israel but
to the people who are living in the OPTs.
Topical
Questions
[V]
The Prime Minister has rightly condemned the UN’s Human Rights
Council for its disproportionate focus on Israel, which he said
was
“damaging to the cause of peace”.
As the UN Human Rights Council meets over the coming weeks, will
the Government commit to voting against one-sided resolutions
singling out Israel, including those outside permanent agenda
item 7, in order to send a clear message that such blatant
anti-Israel bias will not be tolerated?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We have stood up for Israel
when it has faced bias and, frankly, politicised attacks in the
UN and other forums. We will continue to press for the abolition
of item 7, because it is the only country-specific standalone
agenda item and it focuses on Israel, and that cannot be right.
(Guildford) (Con) [V]
The growing ties between Israel and her Arab neighbours are
extremely positive developments that provide an opportunity to
reinvigorate the middle east peace process, which has regrettably
stalled for many years. Will my right hon. Friend outline what
more the UK can do to help support the resumption of direct peace
talks between Israelis and Palestinians, alongside our allies in
the region?
I thank my hon. Friend. We have supported the normalisation of
relations, which is a good step around the region. Of course,
this also led to the suspension of the threat of annexation on
the west bank, which was very important. As a result of that, I
was able to go to talk to President Abbas and Prime Minister
Shtayyeh and encourage them to resume dialogue on west bank
issues, which is very important for security, and to make sure
that Palestinian public servants are paid. Plans are at least
mooted for elections on both sides—both in Israel and on the
Palestinian side. Ultimately, we need leadership from both sides
to secure the peace that my hon. Friend and other Members want.
We need a two-state solution, and the UK will support all those
efforts.
(Lancaster
and Fleetwood) (Lab)
I draw the Secretary of State’s attention to War on Want’s new
report into Israel’s military court system in the occupied west
bank. Does he agree that Palestinian civilians should not be
tried in military courts? What is his Government doing to support
Palestinian human rights defenders who are being tried in them?
The hon. Lady is right to draw attention to the treatment of
Palestinians. The reality is that I do not think there is a bar
on the use of military systems of justice under international
law—let alone under the International Criminal Court system.
Indeed, we use a military justice system with some of the highest
standards in the world. What is crucial is that there is adequate
due process to ensure that people’s rights can be fairly and duly
heard.
