Oral Answers to Questions

Maria Caulfield Excerpts

Tuesday 4th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We are out of time, but I do not want Lewes or Stockton North to lose out. Extreme brevity is required.

[Maria Caulfield (Lewes) (Con)]

14. What discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the recent escalation of violence in the region.

[Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab)]

17. What recent steps he has taken towards establishing a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine.

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

The recent upsurge of violence in Gaza reminds all of us of the need to ensure that the middle east peace process gets moving, because that is the only thing that will make a difference. Both the Foreign Secretary and I have recently seen US envoy Jason Greenblatt, and we will continue all our efforts.

[Maria Caulfield]

The UN General Assembly is scheduled to vote on Thursday on the US-sponsored resolution condemning Hamas for the increasing violence and attacks on civilians and for the worsening situation in Gaza. Will the UK Government be supporting that resolution?

[Alistair Burt]

We do not disclose the intention to vote in advance. What I would say is that it is very clear that we condemn Hamas’s action and conduct; we call for a permanent end to its terror and rocket attacks in relation to Israel; and we continue to proscribe the military wing of Hamas, to impose sanctions against individuals and to have no contact with Hamas.