Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Israeli Government Proscription of Palestinian Civil Society Groups

Tuesday 6 September 2022 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister expressed concern over Israeli Government's designation of six Palestinian NGOs as terrorist organisations.
  • Minister met with human rights defenders and civil society organisations during a visit to Israel and OPTs.
  • Minister acknowledged the need for civil society organisations to operate freely and raised concerns with Israeli counterparts.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alex Cunningham Lab
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Israeli Government designated six Palestinian non-governmental organisations as terrorist organisations in October 2021 and conducted raids on these NGOs, raising concerns about the impact on Palestinian civil society.

Question

Whether she has had recent discussions with her Israeli counterpart on the Israeli Government's proscription of Palestinian civil society groups. I am concerned about the designation of six Palestinian non-governmental organisations as terrorist organisations in October 2021 and the subsequent raids on these NGOs, which have raised serious concerns.

Answer from Amanda Milling

We have been clear about our concern over the Israeli Government's decision to designate six Palestinian non-governmental organisations as terrorist organisations and the subsequent raids on these NGOs. We continue to engage with a number of these organisations and have raised the issue with the Israeli authorities, including through our ambassador to Israel.

Answered
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Q2 Alex Cunningham Lab
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Israeli Government designated six Palestinian non-governmental organisations as terrorist organisations, leading to significant concern about the impact on civil society and the two-state solution.

Question

What assessment has she made of the impact of the listing and raids of Palestinian civic society and human rights groups on the prospect of a two-state solution? The listings have caused serious concerns. Civil society groups play an important role in upholding human rights and democracy, but these designations raise questions about their freedom to operate.

Answer from Amanda Milling

Civil society organisations are crucial for upholding human rights and democracy. They must be able to operate freely in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. During my visit to Israel and the OPTs, I met with human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society organisations to discuss the pressures they face.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific assessment of impact on two-state solution

How: Discussed General Importance But Did Not Provide Specific Assessment

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Q3 Bambos Charalambous Lab Southgate and Wood Green
Foreign Affairs
Context

In October, Israel designated six Palestinian NGOs as terrorist organisations. There are concerns about the lack of evidence supporting these designations.

Question

Will the Minister press her Israeli counterpart for evidence and continue to support Palestinian civil society in the absence of such evidence? The CIA has reported that no evidence was presented to support the designation, which raises serious questions.

Answer from Amanda Milling

I agree with the importance of civil society in terms of human rights and democracy. The evidence is a matter for the Israeli Government, but we maintain our own criteria for designation and continue to engage with many organisations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific request to press for evidence

How: Agreed On Importance Of Civil Society But Did Not Commit To Pressing For Evidence

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Q4 Robert Halfon Con
Foreign Affairs
Context

Iran is stepping up its terrorist activities and supporting attacks against Israel, raising concerns about nuclear capacity.

Question

What plans does my right hon. Friend have to introduce sanctions against Iran and take further punitive measures? With Iran's support of terrorist organisations carrying out attacks against Israel and developing a nuclear programme, there are serious security implications.

Answer from Amanda Milling

I am grateful for the question but will not be able to discuss future sanction designations as that would undermine their effectiveness.

Not addressed: specific plans for sanctions

How: Will Not Discuss Future Plans

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