Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Marsha De Cordova and Andrew Gwynne

Tuesday 30th November 2021 Commons Chamber

[Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) (Lab)]

6. What discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Government of Israel on the designation of certain Palestinian civil society organisations as terrorist groups.

[Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab)]

18. If she will take steps to support the creation of an international fund for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

[The Minister for Asia (Amanda Milling)]

The decision by the Israeli authorities to designate six Palestinian NGOs, and the evidence that forms the basis of those designations, is a matter for the Government of Israel. The UK maintains its own criteria for designation. We continue engagement with a number of those organisations on human rights issues and respect the role that NGOs and civil society organisations play in upholding human rights and democracy.

We are in contact with the Alliance for Middle East Peace regarding its concept of an international fund. The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, my right hon. Friend the Member for Braintree (James Cleverly), met it on 8 September to discuss that.