Oral Answers to Questions

Jim Cunningham Excerpts

Tuesday 15th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Matt Western (Warwick and Leamington) (Lab)]

7. What recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on prospects for the peace process in Israel and Palestine.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

11. What recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on prospects for the peace process in Israel and Palestine.

[The Minister for the Middle East (Alistair Burt)]

At this highly sensitive time in the region, there is an urgent need to restart the peace process between Israel and Palestine. We regularly press both parties to resume direct negotiations towards the two-state solution.

[Alistair Burt]

In answer to the first question, our position is known: we did not agree with the decision, which is a sovereign decision, of both the United States and Israel to move the embassy. We have no plans to do anything similar. In relation to the second question, there is an urgent question after Question Time, and we will go into the difficult circumstances of the past few weeks. I will be happy to deal with that question then.

[Mr Cunningham]

May I push the Minister a little? Why has he not called for the United Nations Security Council to be recalled so that it can look at this situation? Does he agree with the Secretary-General that there should be an inquiry into what has been happening over the last six or seven weeks?

[Alistair Burt]

The House may not yet be aware, but there will be a UN Security Council meeting this afternoon or this evening in relation to this matter. The UK has already said that it supports an independent investigation into the circumstances of what has been happening, and we will continue to take that position.