Demolition of Khan al-Ahmar

Joanna Cherry Excerpts
Wednesday 4th July 2018

(6 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alistair Burt Portrait Alistair Burt
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I can only repeat what I said earlier, which is that we are in discussion with other partners about what the response might be, but I hope that I made clear the UK’s deep concern and our condemnation of an action that threatens the two-state solution.

Joanna Cherry Portrait Joanna Cherry (Edinburgh South West) (SNP)
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There is clearly a strong feeling today that we need more than just condemnation. Given that Israel’s settlements, the demolitions and the forcible transfer of people are illegal under international law, the British Government could tell UK businesses that they should not collude with illegality in their commercial dealings with the settlements any more than they should collude with illegality in the UK.

Alistair Burt Portrait Alistair Burt
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I hear the hon. and learned Lady’s views and understand where they come from, but that has not been our policy in the past. We have left the choice to people who know the background and the circumstances that relate to settlements and their produce. However, as I said earlier, the UK reserves all its actions while it considers what it might do.