Middle East Conflict Prevention 2024-01-30
2024-01-30
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The issue of preventing an escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, particularly involving Israel and Gaza.
What recent steps has the government taken to help prevent an escalation of conflict in the middle east?
The Government are engaging extensively to prevent an escalation of conflict in the Middle East. The Prime Minister spoke to President Biden last week about that specific issue.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific steps or actions taken, only stated engagement and a meeting with President Biden.
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Concerns over Israel's actions in Gaza and the need for proportionate responses, along with diplomatic work across the region.
Does the Minister recognise that we must do everything to protect against others joining the conflict, and that activities such as those against the Houthis must also be proportionate and accompanied by more diplomatic work across the region?
The hon. Gentleman is right to make clear that all of us seek that there should not be an escalation of this conflict in the Middle East. That is why right at the start Britain moved military assets to the eastern end of the Mediterranean. More recently, as he alluded to, we are expressing strong support for freedom of navigation on the high seas, stopping attacks by the Houthis. We are degrading their capacity to carry out their attacks, and have made clear that we will not accept that challenge to international freedom of the sea.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The problem of hopelessness among Palestinian people fueling terrorist outrages and the need for pressure on Israel regarding settlements.
What steps can the Government take with our American friends to try to put pressure on the Israeli state to stop the imposition of new settlements in the west bank, so that we can gradually reduce tensions in the whole region?
We have made it clear that the settlements are illegal and should not have gone ahead and should not go ahead. On the wider point, we are working closely with our American friends and others through the superb diplomatic network that Britain possesses, to try to lift people's eyes and move to the day after, when a political track can start.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific steps or actions but acknowledged illegal nature of settlements and ongoing diplomatic work.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The malign influence of Iran through proxies, leading to conflicts across different regions.
What are the Government doing to disrupt and stop the disruptive activities of Iran?
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had a meeting recently with the Iranian Foreign Minister to set out Britain's view of and requirements from the relationship with Iran, and I think that was a most useful contact to have. The Foreign Secretary is in the region today, trying to ensure that the very points behind this question are accepted and honoured.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific actions but mentioned meetings and ongoing discussions.
Response accuracy