Oral Answers to Questions

Robert Halfon Excerpts
Tuesday 4th December 2012

(11 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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I cannot fault the comprehensiveness of the right hon. Gentleman’s reply. We are genuinely grateful; he is trying to help the House.

Robert Halfon Portrait Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con)
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Does my right hon. Friend agree that it would be a retrograde step to break off diplomatic relations with Israel, especially given that successive Israeli Governments have said that they would withdraw from most of the west bank under a properly negotiated treaty?

Lord Hague of Richmond Portrait Mr Hague
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We hope of course that that will happen in due course. Diplomacy is what is needed most of all in this situation, so I do not think that we would contemplate breaking off diplomatic relations with any of those involved, but we are going to have to ramp up our diplomatic efforts in various ways. I am not going to rule out any diplomatic options over the coming weeks.