House of Commons · Westminster Hall
17 March 2021 · 2 other contributors · 3,592 words
Opened by Scott Benton Ind Blackpool South
Responding minister: James Cleverly
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Scott Benton raised concerns about un human rights council: uk voting record on israel in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
The UK should vote against all anti-Israel resolutions, including those moved outside of the scope of item 7 at the current session of the Human Rights Council. It is crucial that the Government honour their pledge and take action to support a fair treatment of Israel in international forums.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
The UK's voting record at the UN Human Rights Council singles out Israel for disproportionate condemnation, with over half of condemnations targeting Israel compared to only 10 against Iran. This bias undermines the Council's credibility and hinders peace efforts in the region. The existence of a permanent agenda item dedicated solely to criticism of Israel further illustrates this bias.
The hon. Member supports the debate and criticises the UN for its bias against Israel, stating that it perpetuates a false narrative of victimisation of Palestinians by Israel, which he argues hinders peace efforts in the Middle East.
My hon. Friend highlights the systematic bias within the United Nations that undermines its credibility and hampers peace efforts in the Middle East. He points out that biased resolutions are now appearing under different agenda items, suggesting a need for consistent opposition by the UK. Asked the Minister to commit to voting against text that singles out Israel for criticism when it appears under item 2, arguing for moral consistency with previous votes.
Government Response
James CleverlyThe UK Government have a principled opposition to agenda item 7 at the UN Human Rights Council and have voted against it due to its nature. The decision will be based on the specific text rather than our principled opposition to item 7 as a tool of unfair criticism of Israel, and ongoing negotiations may lead to a final text that is unacceptable to the UK Government. The close relationship between the UK and Israel allows us to speak out when warranted, such as regarding annexation and demolition in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We are committed to supporting balanced resolutions and advancing towards a two-state solution, while avoiding polarising actions at UN bodies which do little to promote peace or mutual understanding. Our approach involves working with international partners including regional bodies, European allies, the United States, Israel, and the Palestinian leadership to encourage dialogue and joint efforts towards a peaceful resolution.