Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Israeli Occupation of the West Bank

Tuesday 12 March 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK Government has made an assessment of the implications of Israeli occupation of the West Bank on UK policies.
  • Palestinian civilians in the West Bank have reported experiencing kidnappings, torture, and abuse at the hands of Israeli settlers.
  • UK Government emphasizes the importance of religious freedom and respect for places of worship in Jerusalem during religious observances.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alan Brown SNP
Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP raised concerns about the implications of Israeli policies in the West Bank, citing specific human rights violations and deaths.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the implications for UK policies of the Israeli occupation of the west bank? There have been 400 deaths and testimonies from Palestinian civilians who have faced kidnap, torture, and abuse at the hands of Israeli settlers. The UK Government have sanctioned only four illegal settlers. What further action are the UK Government going to take against settlers?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

Israel must not undermine prospects for peace and security in the west bank. As the occupying power, Israel must protect the civilian population.

Not addressed: The specific ask about further actions against settlers was avoided.

How: Changed Subject

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Q2 Peter Grant SNP
Foreign Affairs
Context

700,000 criminal acts of unlawful occupation have been endorsed and instructed by Benjamin Netanyahu. Two individuals have been sanctioned for their crimes in the West Bank.

Question

The Minister forgot to mention that this is one of the rare occasions on which the United Kingdom Government have a long-standing position that Israel is acting unlawfully in the west bank. Some 700,000 separate criminal acts of unlawful occupation have been endorsed and instructed by Benjamin Netanyahu. Because that illegal occupation has gone unpunished, we now see extremists, with the tacit acquiescence and sometimes direct support of the Israeli Defence Force, committing acts of cold-blooded murder against innocent civilians. If they do not stand up to criminals, those crimes will get worse. The Minister mentioned that two individuals have been sanctioned for their crimes in the west bank. Why have the President or the Prime Minister of Israel, who ordered that unlawful occupation, not also been sanctioned?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

The Government pursue the objectives I have set out clearly to the House in a way most likely to bring success. The five core asks that are so relevant to many of these questions are: the release of all hostages; formation of a new Palestinian Government for the west bank and Gaza; removing Hamas's capacity to launch attacks against Israel; Hamas no longer being in charge of Gaza; and, with our allies, the provision of serious practical and technical support for the Palestinian Authority.

Not addressed: The specific ask about sanctioning Israeli leaders was avoided.

How: Changed Subject

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Q3 Alan Brown SNP
Community Security Foreign Affairs
Context

400 deaths and testimonies from Palestinian civilians who have faced kidnap, torture, and abuse at the hands of Israeli settlers.

Question

The Minister said that Israel has a duty to protect civilians, but in the west bank there have been 400 deaths. There are now testimonies from Palestinian civilians, including women and children, who have been subject to kidnap, torture and abuse at the hands of Israeli settlers, yet the UK Government have sanctioned only four illegal settlers. What further action are the UK Government going to take against settlers?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

I really do not think that that would be a very sensible thing to do. We do not comment across the Floor of the House on who is about to be sanctioned or where the sanctions regime is going, but the hon. Member may rest assured that we keep these matters under very careful review.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was partially addressed without providing concrete actions against settlers.

How: Hedging Language

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Q4 Catherine West Lab Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Community Security Religion & Faith
Context

Suggestions from Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir that restrictions could be imposed on worshippers at al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan, Passover, and Easter.

Question

As Ramadan begins and Passover and Easter approach, it is vital that all places of worship in Jerusalem be respected. I was extremely concerned by suggestions from Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir that restrictions could be imposed on worshippers at al-Aqsa mosque. I welcome subsequent statements by Israeli authorities that the sanctity of the holiday will be preserved. Authorities must show respect and restraint at this crucial moment. Have the Government made it clear to Israeli counterparts that Minister Ben-Gvir's comments were unacceptable and inflamed tensions, and that the status quo arrangements must be maintained?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

The hon. Member is entirely right about the importance of religious freedom, particularly in the circumstances that she so clearly set out. She may rest assured that those are points that the British Government make very strongly to Israel.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was partially addressed without providing concrete actions or responses from Israeli counterparts.

How: Hedging Language

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