Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK Parliamentarians Debate
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Andy Slaughter
Main Page: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith and Chiswick)Department Debates - View all Andy Slaughter's debates with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK Parliamentarians
Andy Slaughter Excerpts(1 week, 3 days ago)
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Mr Falconer
I will not be cowed by what has happened to my colleagues.
Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith and Chiswick) (Lab)
I have visited the Occupied Palestinian Territories a number of times, including Gaza, in years gone by. One of the purposes is to bear witness to what is happening on the ground. That is particularly important when aid workers, medics, journalists and civilians are being killed in large numbers. While I appreciate the Minister’s support for our colleagues, what will the Government do to ensure that in future Members of this House can visit with impunity?
Mr Falconer
It is the right of the Israeli Government to decide who visits. They can exercise that right as they see fit. I am sure they will hear from right across the whole House Members’ desire to continue to visit, which continues to provide a valuable function. Israel and Britain have a long relationship, whether Parliament to Parliament, society to society or people to people, and I want that to continue.