Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Israel and Palestine

Tuesday 14 March 2023 · 12 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 10 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK has raised concerns with Israel regarding settlement expansion and demolition of Palestinian homes.
  • The Foreign Secretary has raised concerns about settlement building on E1 territories in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, where there is now a moratorium on such expansions.
  • The UK condemns terrorism in all its forms and encourages dialogue and actions that de-escalate tensions.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Carol Monaghan SNP
Foreign Affairs Religion & Faith
Context

The security situation remains fragile with recent spikes in violence and bloodshed.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the implications for policies due to the security and human rights situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories?

Answer from James Cleverly

The UK enjoys a strong bilateral relationship with Israel, allowing us to raise issues where we disagree. We have disagreed with settlement expansion and demolition of Palestinian homes. The Foreign Secretary has raised concerns about the speculation of settlement building on E1 territories in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitments or actions related to addressing violations of international law and human rights issues were not detailed.

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Q2 Steven Bonnar
Community Security Foreign Affairs
Context

There is a culture of impunity when it comes to crimes committed by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

Question

What are the Government doing to encourage Israel to end widespread and systematic discrimination against Palestinian populations? Will he outline any concrete steps taken to deter land seizures, home demolitions, and forced evictions?

Answer from James Cleverly

We have raised concerns about settlement expansion with the Government of Israel. The Foreign Secretary has raised concerns about speculation of settlement building on E1 territories in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and there is now a moratorium on such expansions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to deter land seizures and home demolitions were not detailed.

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Q3 Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Israeli Government is planning to evict over 1,000 Palestinians from their homes in Masafer Yatta.

Question

Has the Foreign Secretary raised matters with his Israeli counterpart regarding planned evictions and annexation of west bank settlements? How does he intend to ensure new Israeli Government abides by international law?

Answer from James Cleverly

We have raised concerns about settlement expansion with the Government of Israel. The need for de-escalation has been emphasised in conversations, and we continue to work towards a sustainable two-state solution.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to ensure adherence to international law were not detailed.

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Q4 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Community Security Foreign Affairs
Context

The British Government became the first to endorse a concept of an international fund for Israeli and Palestinian peace five years ago.

Question

Will the UK Government commit again to leading on that fund? Will the Foreign Secretary use G7 summit opportunity to get other partners lined up?

Answer from James Cleverly

We remain in close contact with our US counterparts about the international fund for peace. We will look favourably at projects aimed at bringing about reconciliation, ensuring effective use of funding towards people-to-people links.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitments to leading or using G7 summit were not detailed.

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Q5 Andy McDonald Lab Middlesbrough and Thornaby East
Foreign Affairs
Context

Settlers in Huwara torched homes, businesses, and vehicles and killed a resident; Israel's Finance Minister openly called for wiping out the town.

Question

Given extremism is given licence by lack of international accountability, will the Foreign Secretary commit to banning goods sourced from Israeli settlements illegally built on occupied Palestinian land?

Answer from James Cleverly

The UK has a long-standing decision regarding settlement goods. The behaviour of those settlers is unacceptable and we want to ensure people are held accountable for their actions, reinforcing viability of a future Palestinian state as part of a sustainable two-state solution.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment to banning goods was not provided.

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Q6 Carol Monaghan SNP
Foreign Affairs
Context

Prime Minister Netanyahu tweeted construction will continue in Judea and Samaria despite commitments to reduce violence.

Question

Does the Foreign Secretary accept that current diplomatic approach is not working given violations of international law?

Answer from James Cleverly

The UK seeks to protect the viability of a sustainable two-state solution and raises concerns about activities that might put that future at risk. The UK works in coordination with international friends and allies for this stance.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific acceptance or rejection, along with details on changing approach were not provided.

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Q7 Tom Randall
Foreign Affairs
Context

A Hamas terrorist shot three Israelis in Tel Aviv, leading to increased violence. The attacks have been ongoing for over a year.

Question

Last Thursday, a Hamas terrorist shot three Israelis in the heart of Tel Aviv, just a few streets away from the British embassy. Shooting and bombing attacks have rocked Israel for over a year now and this wave appears to be intensifying. Will my right hon. Friend join me in condemning those attacks? What meaningful steps can he take to counter the resurgence in terrorist activity?

Answer from James Cleverly

The UK Government condemn terrorism in all its forms. Whatever criticism Palestinians may have of the Israeli Government, there is no justification for terrorist action. We always encourage dialogue, we always encourage co-operation and we always encourage actions that de-escalate. That will continue to be our posture with regard to Israel and the OPTs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific steps were provided to counter terrorism

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Q8 Flick Drummond Con
Foreign Affairs
Context

There is a need for a sustainable two-state solution to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on mutual recognition and peace.

Question

The only way to permanently end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is to deliver Palestinian self-determination and preserve Israel's Jewish and democratic identity through a peaceful two-state solution. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that his Department remains committed to achieving that solution based on 1967 borders and the recognition of Palestine as a state?

Answer from James Cleverly

Our position on a sustainable two-state solution is long standing. We will always encourage Israel to take actions that support that and we have the same conversations with representatives of the Palestinian Authority. We encourage dialogue, we encourage negotiation, we encourage co-operation and we encourage de-escalation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No commitment on 1967 borders or recognition of Palestine as a state

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Q9 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
Community Security
Context

A new terrorist group called Lions' Den has emerged, posing a threat to Israeli and Palestinian security.

Question

The emergence of Lions' Den, a new terrorist group to go alongside Hamas, Hezbollah and many other Islamic terrorist groups, is clearly a threat to Israel's security, and indeed that of the Palestinians. What assessment has my right hon. Friend made of Lions' Den and what co-operation is he pursuing with the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli Government to combat this new form of terrorism?

Answer from James Cleverly

My hon. Friend makes an important point. We will address terrorism in close co-operation with the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, neither of whom have an incentive or desire to allow terrorism to flourish. We will continue our close co-operation with the security services in Israel to try to ensure that Palestinians, Israelis and Brits in the region are all kept safe.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific assessment provided on Lions' Den

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Q10 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Israeli Deputy Prime Minister stormed out of a meeting when Desmond Swayne raised certain issues.

Question

When I raised these issues, the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and chief negotiator simply stormed out of the meeting. Does there come a time when simply raising issues is not enough?

Answer from James Cleverly

It is better than not raising them, I would suggest.

Not addressed: No substantive response provided on the effectiveness of raising issues

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Q11 Fabian Hamilton Lab Leeds North East
Community Security
Context

A violent mob of settlers attacked the Palestinian town of Huwara, killing one person, injuring hundreds, and destroying property.

Question

As we have already heard, on 26 February, following the appalling murder of two Israelis, a violent mob of 400 settlers attacked the Palestinian town of Huwara, killing one, injuring hundreds, and burning buildings and cars. As my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough (Andy McDonald) said, a far-right Minister in the Israeli Government called for Huwara to be wiped out. That shocking incident is part of the deteriorating situation in the occupied west bank and the wider problem of settler violence, for which too often no one is held to account. Again, will the Government press the Israeli authorities to condemn and crack down on these shocking incidents of settler violence?

Answer from James Cleverly

There has been condemnation of those actions within the Israeli system. We are always clear that where there is lawbreaking, authorities should take action. Within the Israeli system there has been recognition of the action being illegal and provocative, and therefore we will continue to work with the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority to find ways of de-escalating the situation and striving for peace, and for what ultimately is in the best interests of Palestinians, Israelis and the region: a peaceful and sustainable two-state solution.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No commitment on pushing Israel to take specific actions against settler violence

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Q12 Drew Hendry SNP
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Israeli Prime Minister broke a moratorium on new construction in settlement areas, indicating a lack of trust.

Question

In February we welcomed the moratorium on new construction in settlement areas, as the Foreign Secretary has described. As we heard, that was followed by an immediate and blatant breach of trust by the Israeli Prime Minister. The Foreign Secretary says that it is better to raise issues than not, but how does he measure success in raising them, because we see absolutely no evidence of success?

Answer from James Cleverly

I do not think it is news to anyone in the House that the situation in Israel and the OPTs is complicated and long standing. We are not the only country in the world that raises these important issues, and we can continue to do so because we have a strong working relationship with both the Government of Israel and the leadership of the Palestinian Authority—as I said, I had conversations with both very recently. We will continue to work at what we think is in everyone's interests: a sustainable two-state solution. We will not be fatalistic about it. We will not give up just because it is difficult. If the hon. Gentleman thinks that we should walk away just because it is a long-standing challenge, that is up to him. We will not abandon the Israelis or the Palestinian people. We will continue working for a sustainable two-state solution.

Not addressed: No specific measurement of success in addressing settlement construction

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