Middle East
Debate between Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and Baroness Wheeler
Captain of the King’s Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard and Deputy Chief Whip (Baroness Wheeler) (Lab)
My Lords, we will hear from the noble Lord, Lord Ahmad.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, I draw attention to my entry in the register on the Middle East and conflict resolution. Perhaps I could push the Minister further on the issue of Lebanon raised by my noble friend Lord Callanan. The United Kingdom, as he rightly acknowledged, has a long-standing support for Lebanon and the Lebanese armed forces. During the last visit I made with the then Foreign Secretary, my noble friend Lord Cameron, to Lebanon, President Aoun—who was then General Aoun of the Lebanese armed forces—requested uniforms and training. These things are required now; they should not be requiring consideration. I press the Minister: what specific support are we giving in support of Resolution 1701 of the UN Security Council, with Britain playing its part and exercising its levers? I am also a bit concerned by the fact that there has been no high-level engagement—visits to Israel and to the Occupied Palestinian Territories— since 2024. We must engage with the Government of Israel to ensure that we see long-term peace and stability in the region. At the moment, I cannot see that happening.