Palestinian Communities: Israeli Demolitions Debate

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Department: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Palestinian Communities: Israeli Demolitions

Ian C. Lucas Excerpts
Wednesday 6th December 2017

(7 years ago)

Westminster Hall
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Stephen Kinnock Portrait Stephen Kinnock
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I thank my hon. Friend. In my speech, I will talk about the other communities under threat of demolition. I very much look forward to hearing the Minister’s response and hope that it will not just be rhetoric and that there will be some reality in there as well.

Ian C. Lucas Portrait Ian C. Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab)
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One of the strengths of Israel is the independence of its rule of law and the way in which the courts fearlessly impose decisions on occasions, but what is particularly tragic about the schools that are being threatened with demolition—I have seen them myself, as many other people have—is that they are in the shadow of illegal settlements. The contradiction and imbalance that exists does not help Israel and the perception of Israel in the rest of the world.

Stephen Kinnock Portrait Stephen Kinnock
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I thank my hon. Friend. The juxtaposition of the young people in those communities seeking to get an education with, right on their doorstep, those illegal settlements is a metaphor for the terribly challenging situation in which we find ourselves.