During Foreign and Commonwealth Office Questions in Parliament this week, Middle East Minister James Cleverly asserted that the Government opposed any calls for sanctions in response to the Israeli government’s policies in the context of possible annexation.
Mr Cleverly said: “There will always be voices in British politics that would jump at any opportunity to bring in sanctions and disinvestment. We do not agree with those voices, and we will continue to work towards a negotiated two-state solution, using the diplomatic means we have at our disposal”.
The Middle East Minister was responding to a question from the SNP’s Alyn Smith MP.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab emphasised a need for the renewal of direct talks: “We want to see a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders. We acutely feel that the vacuum without talks is very dangerous. We want to see talks proceed. That is why we are working with those partners in the region, Arab countries and the E3”.
Conservative MP Anthony Higginbotham had asked the Foreign Secretary about the steps the UK is taking “to bring both Israel and Palestine to the table so that we can secure lasting peace in the region”.
In the same session, Bury South MP Christian Wakeford asked the FCO Minister what plans are in place to “strengthen partnerships between Israeli med-tech companies and UK researchers, in particular the Northwest, to develop not only a vaccine, but better prepare for the potentiality of any future pandemic”.
