NICK HARVEY DEPLORES ISRAEL’S TREATMENT OF THE PALESTINIANS
January 25, 2008 4:34 PM
I am passionate in my opposition to Israel's treatment of the Palestinians and my party is fully committed to a two-state solution. Both Israel and Palestine have the right to be viable and secure states, recognised internationally and by their neighbours.
The Palestinian-Israeli situation is a constant source of debate in both Houses. On 7 January in Lords in discussing the Israel and Palestine: Annapolis Conference FCO Minister Lord Malloch-Brown stated: 'I can certainly confirm that it is the intention and purpose of British diplomacy over the coming months to ensure that a Palestinian state that emerges from these negotiations is truly independent and sovereign and no 'Bantustan.''
Similarly in the Commons the following day Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells was quizzed on the situation responding: 'We understand Israel's security dilemma and recognise Israel's right to self-defence. However, Israeli actions must be consistent with international law and not cause suffering to innocent civilians.
On the issue of illegal settlements the UK continues to make clear that settlements are illegal under international law and settlement construction is an obstacle to peace. The road map makes clear that Israel should freeze all settlement construction, including the "natural growth" of existing settlements, and dismantle all outposts built since 2001.
The 'road map' which was meant to deliver this two state solution has become embarrassingly out-of-date and I believe the international community has been disastrously distracted from the road map by the events in Lebanon and elsewhere; we therefore believe that the Quartet (the United Nations, United States, Russia and the European Union) should be replaced by a new 'Quintet'. This new body would be chaired by the UN Secretary General, and would for the first time, include the Arab League.
The involvement of the Arab League is controversial in some quarters, but one of our goals is mutual recognition between Israel and its Arab neighbours.
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