Israel and
Palestine
(Pontypridd) (Lab)
2. What assessment he has made of the implications for his
policies of recent violence in Israel and Palestine.(904712)
(Edinburgh East) (SNP)
4. Whether he has had recent discussions with his Israeli
counterpart on the human rights situation in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories.(904714)
The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Affairs ()
Our strong bilateral relationship with Israel means that we can
speak frankly with the Israelis, and whenever I do so I encourage
them to ensure that security operations are carried out
proportionately and in accordance with international law. I call
on all parties to find opportunities to de-escalate tension. On 7
April, I condemned the indiscriminate rocket attacks directed at
Israel, and I also condemned the horrific murder of Lucy, Maia
and Rina Dee by a terrorist. My deepest condolences go to Rabbi
Leo Dee and his family. The UK remains committed to a two-state
solution, and we consistently engage with Israel and the
leadership of the Palestinian Authority to support that goal.
(Hammersmith) (Lab)
T4. On 15 May, it will be 75 years since the Nakba—the expulsion
of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes and the destruction of
500 Palestinian villages. Given Britain’s historical role in
Palestine, what message does the Foreign Secretary have on this
anniversary for the millions of displaced Palestinians in the
occupied territories, refugee camps and the wider
diaspora?(904740)
The UK’s position on this is of long standing, and I have
discussed it at the Dispatch Box today. We strive to create or to
support the creation of a sustainable two-state solution so that
the Palestinian people and the Israeli people have safe homes in
which they can live, and that will remain the cornerstone of UK
foreign policy in the region.
(Batley and Spen) (Lab)
T6. It is almost a year since the killing of the
Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the Jenin
refugee camp. Will the Foreign Secretary join me in supporting
her brother Anton’s call for a thorough independent investigation
into her death, and agree with me that that is now long
overdue?(904743)
It is tragic when we see the loss of life in the region. We
always call for the swift and transparent investigation of any
fatalities, and that is very much at the heart of our policy. I
will ensure that I get more details on the case the hon. Member
has raised. I was familiar with it at the time, but I will make
sure I am back up to speed with that.
(Harrow East) (Con)
Further to the excellent question from my hon. Friend the Member
for West Bromwich East (), Vahid Beheshti has now
been on hunger strike for 69 days. He has had a meeting with the
Foreign Office Minister for the area responsible, but he has not
had a meeting with the Foreign Secretary, so may I urge my right
hon. Friend—Vahid Beheshti is just across the road from the
Foreign Office—to have a meeting with him on his route back to
the Foreign Office? He will tell my right hon. Friend about the
malign activities carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps in this country and about the threat to UK citizens.
As I say, my heart goes out to Mr Beheshti. I urge him to bring
his hunger strike to an end. We know very well the threats the
IRGC poses to the people in Iran and the region and here in the
UK. We work very closely with the Home Office on how best to
protect ourselves and our friends in the region against that
activity. I assure my hon. Friend that remains a top priority for
us. I am glad my ministerial colleagues have had meetings with Mr
Beheshti on this issue. As I say, any decisions about designation
will be taken conscious of our absolute commitment to protect
British people and British interests both overseas and in the
UK.
I share the sentiments of the Foreign Secretary, but last year
was the deadliest year for violence in the west bank since 2005
and the cycle of violence continues. There are some trailblazing
organisations working in the region using cutting-edge science
and artificial intelligence technology to encourage peace and an
end to the bloodshed. What recent conversations have Ministers or
the Secretary of State had with their colleagues in the
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology about the value
of those collaborative projects and their impact on a two-state
solution?
I thank the hon. Lady for the points she has put forward. I will
endeavour to speak with the Secretary of State or Ministers in
that Department. We will constantly explore opportunities to
enhance peace and strive towards a sustainable two-state
solution, whether through the most traditional people-to-people
approach or through the use of AI. Whatever it takes, we are
willing to consider it.
The Foreign Secretary mentioned the two-state solution. Now that
it is the policy of the Israeli Government not to pursue a
two-state solution, can he explain how the discussions on trade
with Israel will be used to pursue that policy objective and to
uphold human rights and international law in the occupied
territories?
The UK enjoys a trade relationship with Israel; indeed, we have a
trade agreement with the Occupied Palestinian Territories as
well. We will always put human rights and the pursuit of peace at
the heart of our foreign policy when it comes to Israel and the
OPTs. We will continue to hold our position on the desirability
of a two-state solution and we will continue, in our interactions
with the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority, to
pursue that aim.
(The Wrekin) (Con)
Does the Foreign Secretary agree that the Abraham accords are a
huge breakthrough in diplomatic dialogue in the region, that they
are a force for good and that they are creating conversations
between people who previously did not speak and join together
around the same table? Is it not the case that the Palestinian
leadership should recognise that the region is changing and that
they need to get on board and work with their friends, allies and
partners in the region to try to understand the differences of
opinion across the region?
My right hon. Friend makes an incredibly important point about
the changing dynamic in the region. I am very pleased that the
Abraham accords were signed. More than being just a single point
in time, the accords have unlocked a series of dialogues between
countries in the Arab world and Israel. They have also formalised
relationships that perhaps would have been informal up until this
point, and they are a fantastic stepping-stone towards wider
regional security and that peaceful, sustainable two-state
solution.
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
(Con)
Aside from the violent incidents that my right hon. Friend has
referred to, does he agree that the fact that more than 1 million
worshippers were able to visit the Temple Mount during Ramadan
and that the month of April saw the great festivals of Easter,
Passover and Ramadan being celebrated so freely throughout Israel
marks Israel out as a remarkable example of religious freedom and
tolerance in the middle east?
On my visit to Israel, I saw people of all religions living their
lives freely there, and that is to be commended. Through this
rare period when the three great religions celebrate these
significant events at the same time of the year—I think these
festivals converge once every 33 years—I had extensive
conversations with the Israeli leadership, the Palestinian
leadership and leadership in the region. I am pleased that
opportunities were taken to de-escalate and to support religious
freedom. That will always be something that we champion in our
relationships.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Enfield, Southgate)
(Lab)
Last week, the British Consulate General in Jerusalem, joined by
other European missions, visited Jubbet ahd-Dhib school near
Bethlehem, which along with 58 other schools in the west bank and
Jerusalem is at risk of demolition, and implored the Israeli
Government to
“reverse the demolition order and protect the right to education
for all.”
Considering the possibility of violence occurring as a result of
such demolitions and the impact of demolishing schools on
children in the west bank and East Jerusalem, will the Secretary
of State join the calls to demand that Israel reverse these
demolition orders? Can he also tell me what steps he is taking to
protect the viability of a two-state solution?
As I said in answer to an earlier question, one of the advantages
of the strong bilateral relationship that we have with Israel is
that we are able to speak regularly about such sensitive issues.
Israel knows the UK’s long-standing position on settlements,
evictions and demolitions, which is clear: they are illegal under
international law and they limit the chances of success of a
two-state solution. We raise that directly with Israel, and
Israel listens when we do.
Iran: Human Rights
Abuses
(West Bromwich East)
(Con)
3. What diplomatic steps he is taking to help tackle human rights
abuses in Iran.(904713)
The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Affairs ()
uman rights issues in Iran remain at the heart of the UK’s
strategy towards Iran. We raise violations at all appropriate
opportunities, as well as via our embassy and directly with the
Iranians here in London. In response to the regime’s most recent
crackdown on protests, we have announced more than 70 new
sanctions, and we continue to work with our partners to hold Iran
accountable at the UN Human Rights Council and the General
Assembly.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is responsible for
grotesque human rights abuses, with reports of 582 executions
last year and chemical attacks against 90 girls’ schools in
recent months. Vahid Beheshti is on his 69th day of hunger strike
and was recently supported by 125 cross-party parliamentarians in
his campaign to proscribe the IRGC. Does the Foreign Secretary
acknowledge the sense of urgency that so many parliamentarians
have about the IRGC’s proscription, which would improve and
protect lives both in Iran and here in Britain?
Mr Beheshti has met ministerial colleagues in both the Home
Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. I
worry about his health and would urge him to stop his hunger
strike. We have responded to Iran’s completely unacceptable
behaviour by sanctioning the IRGC in its entirety and certain of
its leaders specifically. We will always take action that we
believe to be in the best interests of the safety of British
nationals at home and abroad, and of course we always keep
options available and under review.
(Denton and Reddish)
(Lab)
Professor Javaid Rehman, the UN special rapporteur, recently
published his report on the human rights abuses in Iran. There
are no surprises in it. We know that what is happening in Iran is
atrocious, but we also know that the Iranian regime is doing
pretty similar stuff right across the world, including here in
the United Kingdom, where it is using the IRGC to bear down on
people who condemn Iran in this country. Why will the Government
not do what people on both sides of the Chamber want and
proscribe the revolutionary guards? That is needed now.
As I say, we do not discuss or speculate about future
proscriptions. I remind the House that the IRGC is sanctioned in
its entirety, as are certain individuals within its leadership.
The FCDO of course works closely with the Home Office, which is
the Department responsible for such decisions. Any decision of
this nature will inevitably be cross-governmental. We always keep
our options under review, and we will always take the action that
we believe to be in the best interests of the safety of British
nationals at home and abroad and in pursuit of our wider
objective, which is to put pressure on Iran to improve its human
rights record.
Occupied Territories:
Ban on Imports
(Orkney and Shetland)
(LD)
14. If he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for
Business and Trade on the potential merits of implementing a ban
on importing goods produced in occupied territories. (904726)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Affairs ()
The UK has no plans to ban imports from the Occupied Palestinian
Territories. However, goods imported from the settlements are not
entitled to preferential treatment under the UK-Israel trade and
partnership agreement, and the UK also supports accurate
labelling of settlement goods so as not to mislead the consumer.
The UK’s position on settlements is clear: they are illegal under
international law and present an obstacle to peace.
Mr Carmichael
I think it would be uncontroversial to say that we would not
import goods from Crimea, so why it should be any different when
we are dealing with the Occupied Palestinian Territories, I
simply do not understand. Looking forward to any future trade
agreement with Israel, can the Minister assure me that any such
agreement would include a clear territoriality clause to specify
that it applied only to the sovereign state of Israel, and not to
any part of those territories occupied by her in 1967?
Only Israeli goods originating from the state of Israel will be
covered by the new UK-Israel free trade agreement.
Topical
Questions
(Slough) (Lab)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(904737)
The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Affairs ()
Since the last set of oral questions, we have evacuated British
nationals from Sudan, and we are pushing both multilaterally and
bilaterally for a lasting peace settlement. I want to reassure
the House that this does not detract from our ongoing support to
Ukraine in its self-defence against the brutal invasion by
Russia. I delivered a major speech on how the UK will engage with
China, and I visited our Pacific partners and attended meetings
of NATO and G7 foreign ministers. My right hon. Friend the
Minister for Africa delivered a keynote speech on our
international development policy, and other Ministers in the
Department have visited allies across Europe, Africa, South and
North America and the middle east, including key visits to
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cameroon, Azerbaijan, Australia, Guatemala,
the World Bank in Washington and The Hague.
Mr Dhesi
Under the new Israeli coalition Government, which contains
far-right elements, violence against Palestinians has escalated,
including Israeli forces attacking Muslim worshippers at the
al-Aqsa mosque and attacks against Palestinian Christians at the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We must condemn all forms of
violence, including the devastating murder of three British
Jewish citizens, but does the Secretary of State agree that the
cycle of violence will not end and there will be no prospect of a
lasting peace if the occupying forces are busy building more
illegal settlements and trying to evict and oppress an entire
people?
I am not sure the hon. Gentleman was in his place during my
earlier response, but our position on settlement demolitions is
long-standing. We believe they are illegal under international
law and undermine the best possible chances of a sustainable,
peaceful two-state solution.
(Heywood and Middleton)
(Con)
T5. President Zelensky has said that Tehran has provided Moscow
with around 2,000 drones, which are being used to devastate
Ukraine. Does my right hon. Friend share my concern about the
IRGC’s complicity in international aggression, and does he agree
with me and many other Members that it is now time to revisit the
proscription of the IRGC?(904742)
We have sanctioned the IRGC in its entirety. We have also put in
specific sanctions on the supply of those military drones to
Russia, which have been utilised to attack civilian
infrastructure in Ukraine. We will continue to keep our deterrent
posture towards Iran under review. As my hon. Friend will know,
it is not common practice to speculate on what further action we
might take in response, but I take the point he is making very
much on board.
