Prime Minister Theresa May has today reiterated her view that direct peace talks remain the best way to secure a two-state solution. Mrs May’s comments came during the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions session in the House of Commons, in response to a question from CFI’s Parliamentary Chairman, Rt. Hon. Sir Eric Pickles MP.
Sir Eric called for Mrs May to press Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah to meet with Israeli’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Rt. Hon. Sir Eric Pickles MP asked: “In my Rt. Hon. Friend’s [Theresa May] meeting with Mr Netanyahu this week, did she press that the only way to get a lasting peace settlement is for young Palestinians and young Israelis to look forward to a job, a share in prosperity and a life without fear. Does she agree that the only way to achieve this is face-to-face negotiations, and will she join the Israeli Prime Minister in pressing the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority for face-to-face negotiations?”
Prime Minister Theresa May replied: “My Rt. Hon. Friend does make a very important point about this. We continue as a Conservative Government in the UK to believe that the two-state solution is the right one. That means a viable Palestinian state, but also a safe and secure Israel. And of course it is for the parties to negotiate. Obviously there are others on the international arena who are doing their work to facilitate an agreement in the Middle East, but ultimately it is for the two parties to agree a way forward”.
