Middle East Luciana Berger (Liverpool, Wavertree) (Lab/Co-op)
7. What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State
for International Development on supporting the creation of an
international fund for Israeli-Palestinian peace. [903895] Alex
Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab) 17. What recent discussions
he has had with the Secretary of State for International...Request free trial
Middle East
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(Liverpool, Wavertree)
(Lab/Co-op)
7. What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of
State for International Development on supporting the
creation of an international fund for Israeli-Palestinian
peace. [903895]
-
(Stockton North)
(Lab)
17. What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of
State for International Development on the political
obstacles to the provision of healthcare to Palestinians in
the west bank and Gaza. [903905]
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The Minister for the Middle East (Alistair Burt)
The United Kingdom supports the concept of an international
fund for Israeli-Palestinian peace. The Department for
International Development’s people-to-people programme has
similar aims, and brings together individuals from both sides
to build support for a durable solution. We also remain
concerned about the provision of healthcare in Gaza, and we
are urging all the parties to take the necessary steps to
improve conditions there.
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I think the Minister for his response. With the UK’s
increased commitment to funding coexistence projects in
Israel-Palestine, which many on both sides of the House have
long supported, we have an opportunity to lead the way on the
global stage. Will he therefore pledge the UK’s diplomatic
support to help to create that international fund, to ensure
that our funding is matched by others as part of a
sustainable international initiative to build the peace in
the middle east that we all long for?
-
Many of us have worried over the years that one of the worst
aspects of the conflict has been the separation of peoples.
To that extent, we are following the concept of the
development of this fund very carefully, and I will continue
to take a strong personal interest in it. The sentiment
behind it is exactly why we have the £3 million programme,
but we will be watching the development of the international
fund and giving it support where we can.
-
A couple of weeks ago, I was humbled to meet a group of young
Palestinians and listen to their personal stories about the
restrictions on healthcare. A report from the World Health
Organisation states that 54 patients died in 2017 while
awaiting exit permits to get medical treatment outside Gaza.
Will the Minister press Israel to remove the restrictions on
patients, to prevent more Palestinians from dying while
waiting for medical treatment?
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The circumstances in Gaza remain dire in many ways. The free
movement of patients and medical personnel is vital to the
effectiveness of care. We regularly raise concerns about
ambulance and permit delays with the Israeli authorities, and
we will continue to do so.
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(Harrow East) (Con)
Since September 2015, some 58 Israelis and four foreign
nationals have been murdered by Palestinian terrorists in
more than 400 separate stabbing, shooting and car ramming
incidents. The terrorists have been rewarded with honorary
titles, monthly salaries and other opportunities. Will my
right hon. Friend make it clear to the Palestinian Authority
that, until such time as glorification of terrorism ends,
there can be no peace in the middle east?
-
As my hon. Friend is aware, we continue to condemn incitement
and violent activities in the region at all times. The
attacks that he mentions are absolutely not conducive to
peace and should not be celebrated. However, the context of
the situation means that we must continue to work for an end
to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, because
only when that happens will the seeds of conflict be taken
away. In the meantime, we unreservedly condemn all terrorist
and violent attacks.
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(Heywood and Middleton)
(Lab)
After the US halved its funding for the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency last month, President Trump explained the
decision by saying that the Palestinians
“disrespected us…by not allowing our great vice president to
see them...that money is not going to them unless they sit
down and negotiate peace.”
May I ask the Minister to state, on behalf of this House,
that extorting the Palestinian Authority to bend the knee to
Mike Pence by removing essential healthcare and education
from impoverished Palestinian families is nothing short of a
disgrace?
-
The actions of the United States Government in this case have
nothing to do with us. Our view on UNRWA remains absolutely
clear. I met the director of UNRWA just this morning at the
Department for International Development. We will continue to
support it and to fund it. To leave refugees in Lebanon and
Jordan without support would be a disaster. UNRWA needs to
continue to get support, and it will do so from the United
Kingdom.
Point of
Order
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(Hendon) (Con)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. In December 2016, the
British Government adopted the International Holocaust
Remembrance Alliance definition of “anti-Semitism”. This
definition explains that claiming that the existence of
the state of Israel is a racist and illegitimate
endeavour is anti-Semitic. Therefore, by the Government’s
own measure, the words “Israeli apartheid week” are
manifestly anti-Semitic and violate this country’s own
definition of anti-Semitism. Given that the Secretary of
State and his team are here and that yesterday marked the
beginning of Israeli Apartheid Week, may I ask you, Sir,
how we can have a statement from the Government
condemning these actions and, if appropriate, bringing
forward the necessary legislation to prevent them?
-
Mr Speaker
I do not know whether a Minister is minded to make a
statement on the matter, and I am not entirely sure which
Minister the hon. Gentleman had in mind. The Secretary of
State for Education is in his place, but it is not
obvious to me that the matter is for the Secretary of
State. Other Ministers are also present on the Treasury
Bench and they will have heard what the hon. Gentleman
has had to say. I suspect that what he has had to say
will be communicated more widely to members of the
Government. I think that for today we will leave it
there, but I thank him for saying what he wanted to say.
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