Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Middle East: Conflict Prevention

Tuesday 30 January 2024 · 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government are engaging extensively to prevent an escalation of conflict in the Middle East.
  • The UK moved military assets to the eastern end of the Mediterranean to prevent conflict escalation.
  • The Government are working closely with American friends to address tensions and illegal settlements in the region.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alex Cunningham Lab
Foreign Affairs
Context

The issue of preventing an escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, particularly involving Israel and Gaza.

Question

What recent steps has the government taken to help prevent an escalation of conflict in the middle east?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps or actions taken, only stated engagement and a meeting with President Biden.

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Q2 Alex Cunningham Lab
Foreign Affairs
Context

Concerns over Israel's actions in Gaza and the need for proportionate responses, along with diplomatic work across the region.

Question

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?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

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.

Answered
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Q3 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Foreign Affairs
Context

The problem of hopelessness among Palestinian people fueling terrorist outrages and the need for pressure on Israel regarding settlements.

Question

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?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps or actions but acknowledged illegal nature of settlements and ongoing diplomatic work.

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Q4 Wayne David Lab
Foreign Affairs
Context

The malign influence of Iran through proxies, leading to conflicts across different regions.

Question

What are the Government doing to disrupt and stop the disruptive activities of Iran?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific actions but mentioned meetings and ongoing discussions.

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