Palestinian Authority:
ODA
(Henley) (Con): What steps
she is taking to ensure that official development assistance to
the Palestinian Authority supports the peace process.
The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa ()
Development programmes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
work to preserve the prospect of a negotiated two-state solution
and simultaneously to improve the lives of Palestinians, in line
with the UK’s long-standing approach to the middle east peace
process. Although the UK will no longer provide direct funding to
the Palestinian Authority, we understand the importance of
capacity building of Palestinian institutions.
Earlier this year, the long-awaited EU review into the
Palestinian Authority’s school curriculum was published, and it
confirmed numerous examples of antisemitism I
note the Minister’s recent announcement that the UK is no longer
funding Palestinian teachers to draft and deliver this
curriculum, but will he ensure that any further UK support to
Palestinian education is conditional on a zero-tolerance approach
to antisemitism and that
that is shown at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East?
I assure my hon. Friend that the UK Government take a
zero-tolerance approach to anti- semitism, wherever it is. The
reduction in funding to the Palestinian Authority was in direct
response to the official development assistance prioritisation
review, which was itself in response to the economic constraints
driven by covid. We do, however, continue to support the
Palestinians through the UNRWA. We will ensure that, as we have
done, we continue to press for that education curriculum to be
devoid of any examples of antisemitism
(Rochdale) (Lab)
I obviously totally agree with bringing pressure to bear on
issues such as antisemitism
Nevertheless, the humanitarian crisis that exists in Gaza in
particular ought to shock the world, with a lack of access to
clean water and of proper education, particularly for young girls
and women in Gaza. As a country, we still ought to support the
provision of those things. Can the Minister give us a clear
understanding of when that assistance will return, because it
matters?
As I said, the UK continues to support UNRWA, which does
fantastic work in both the west bank and Gaza. On my recent trip
to Egypt, I spoke with Egyptian officials about the work that
they had done to help to support Gaza after the conflict. The
best thing that we can all do for the people of Gaza, the OPTs
and the wider region is to push for a sustainable, peaceful
two-state solution. That will remain the foundation stone of the
UK’s policy in the region.
(Dundee West) (SNP)
I welcome the new Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth
and Development Affairs and I hope that she has a long and
welcome time in that place.
How can this Government be serious about supporting the peace
process and striving for reconciliation when they are cutting aid
spending by 71%? With further deeply damaging cuts expected in
tomorrow’s Budget and spending review, does the Minister not see
that slashing the aid budget fundamentally undermines our
national security as well as being against our national
interest?
I remind the House that because of covid this country experienced
the worst economic contraction in three centuries, and it was
absolutely right that we responded to that. We remain, in both
absolute and percentage terms, one of the most generous aid
donors in the world. We are proud of that record, as I and my
right hon. Friends in Government have said. We aim to return to
0.7% as soon as the fiscal situation allows.
