Shadow Foreign Secretary MP is on a visit to Israel and
the Occupied Palestinian Territories in the Labour Party’s first
visit since Hamas' appalling terrorist attack on October 7th
and the outbreak of full-scale war.
In Israel, Lammy is meeting with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog,
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, Leader of the Opposition Yair Lapid
as well as Leader of the Israeli Labour Party Merav Michaeli. In
the West Bank, Lammy is meeting with the Palestinian Authority's
Deputy Foreign Minister, Amal Jadu.
It builds on Lammy’s meetings with the Foreign Ministers of
Egypt, Qatar, Jordan and Saudi Arabia in recent weeks and wider
engagement at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain.
From Israel, MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary
of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs,
issued his harshest rebuke of the international community for
failing to perceive the threat of Hamas terrorists and deliver a
two-state solution:
“The horrors of Hamas’ terrorist murders and kidnappings on
October 7th have been followed by an unimaginable humanitarian
emergency in Gaza, with unbearable civilian casualties and images
of children pulled from the rubble. We mourn the death of every
civilian, Palestinian and Israeli, equally.
“The international community, including successive Conservative
governments, must learn the lessons of decades of failure to
resolve this conflict. For too long our leaders have been content
with the delusions of wishful thinking when it comes to peace in
the Middle East. There has been a failure to deliver the
two-state solution that is necessary to deliver long-term peace,
security and independence to both Israel and Palestine.
“The ultimate end to conflict we all want to see won’t happen
simply by affirming that we want it to happen. Hard diplomacy is
required with all governments in the region to deliver a longer
pause immediately to respond to the shocking humanitarian
emergency in Gaza, secure the release of hostages so cruelly
taken by Hamas and as a necessary step to an enduring cessation
of violence.
“Labour is realistic about Britain’s influence in the region but
knows its historic responsibilities. The next Labour government
will be tirelessly committed to playing its role in the hard
diplomacy required with Israel, Palestine, partners in the Gulf
and the wider Middle East region to help deliver a real, not
rhetorical, path to two-state solution. Diplomacy is how we can
secure the release of hostages, protect Palestinian civilians
suffering terribly in Gaza, deter the threat of further
escalation in the West Bank and wider region and ultimately
secure Israel and an Independent Palestine.”
