Israel and Palestine
Baroness Altmann Excerpts(1 week, 2 days ago)
Lords ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)
It is vital that Israel ensures that there is sustained passage for patients who need treatment that is not available in Gaza during the first phase of this ceasefire. That means working with neighbours, because speed and distance are important factors in receiving treatment. However, I reassure my noble friend that officials across Whitehall are looking at all options to make sure that we are doing everything in our power to help and to explore all avenues to support those who are critically ill in Gaza. That is why we have also announced £1 million for the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, delivered through WHO Egypt, to support Palestinians who are medically evacuated from Gaza.
Baroness Altmann (Non-Afl)
My Lords, does the Minister agree that Israel has, for its entire existence, sought a two-state solution and to live in peace alongside a Palestinian state? Unless and until the Palestinians themselves accept Israel’s very right to exist and stop indoctrinating their children that the only thing that matters is recovering, “from the river to the sea”, the land that they have claimed ownership of but which has been disputed for so long, it will be very difficult to see a sustainable path to peace for Israelis and Palestinians, especially with the ongoing international involvement in the indoctrination of children via UNRWA schools.
Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)
I think noble Lords will appreciate that we have an opportunity to focus on the broader issues when we come to the Statement. The United Kingdom is ready to play a leading role with international and regional partners in the process towards that next stage of the two-state solution. It is predicated on tangible progress towards a Palestinian state, with Gaza and the West Bank united under one Government. The PA’s role in Gaza must therefore be front and centre. Planning needs to advance security for both Gazans and Israel, as the noble Baroness pointed out.
Anniversary of 7 October Attacks: Middle East
Baroness Altmann Excerpts(3 months, 3 weeks ago)
Lords ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Baroness Smith of Basildon (Lab)
The noble Baroness will understand that I am not going to accede to her request for an inquiry, but I think that all news outlets have a duty and responsibility to the truth. One thing I have found difficult in the coverage of this conflict is its focus on the destruction and hurt that have happened; I would like to see some balance around the political efforts to reach a solution as well. That would help people to understand what the conflict is about. I think that many people watching the TV news are obviously horrified, upset and distraught by what they see, but there is no great understanding of the background to it and why things are happening. All news outlets have a duty and a responsibility to ensure that their reporting is accurate.
Baroness Altmann (Non-Afl)
My Lords, what evidence can the noble Baroness point to that there is any desire on the part of the Iranian, Palestinian and other terrorist proxies for a two-state solution? Ever since Israel was founded, their determination has been to wipe it off the map. Israel has tried and wants to live in peace, alongside its neighbours. It was not occupying Gaza or Lebanon, but somehow all that seems to have been forgotten, while Hamas builds its terror infrastructure underneath the schools, mosques and hospitals of its own people, seemingly deliberately to place them in harm’s way, to attack Israel from them and attract Israel to retaliate. Israel does not wish to kill civilians; it wishes to kill the people who want to wipe it off the map. Can the noble Baroness tell the House what recognition there is that so much of the responsibility for the civilian deaths is on Hamas, which is the aggressor that chose this war, rather than Israel, which is fighting for its very existence?
Baroness Smith of Basildon (Lab)
In some ways, the noble Baroness has emphasised the point I made a moment ago about people understanding the background of what has happened. It looks and feels at times as if a two-state solution will be impossible, but if we allow that to take hold, we will never strive or make those efforts to achieve some peace in the region. I cannot see any other way forward but diplomatic solutions. She makes the point about people understanding what is behind this; the very first question I answered today was on the attacks on 7 October, and it was because of those attacks that this wall of violence and terror has been unleashed, but there have been similar intentions for a very long time. As the noble Lord, Lord Grocott, said, unless those intentions are dealt with and addressed, we will not see a lasting peace.