Foreign secretary quizzed by Corbyn over ‘illegal’ Israeli settlements

James Cleverly has reiterated the UK government still considers Israeli settlements in the Palestinian Territories to be illegal after being questioned on the issue by Jeremy Corbyn.

The Islington North MP raised the matter at foreign office questions in the Commons, citing the recent decision by the UK to vote against referring to the International Court of Justice at the United Nations.

After the foreign secretary answered with a simple “yes” to Corbyn’s initial question, the independent MP asked “if that is the case” what sanctions are being applied against Israel “in terms of supplying arms and trading with illegally produced settlement goods, because these settlements, if they are, as the government says completely illegal, why are we having anything to do with them at all?

Corbyn added:”And why would we change our stance at the United Nations?”

The foreign secretary responded by saying:”The UK opposes unilateral resolutions that damage the efforts to advance dialogue, and therefore the prospects of a two state solution.”

He said the UK’s position on settlements was “clear, consistent and unambiguous.”

But then Conservative MP Richard Bacon said that on a recent visit to the West Bank with the International Development Committee he had seen for himself “just how much worse conditions have become for Palestinian families wishing to see each other within the West Bank.”

Bacon said Israeli actions represented an attempt to “Balkanise the West Bank” and asked what actions the UK government was taking to put pressure on the government of the Jewish state?

Cleverly said:”We enjoy a close and professional working relationship with the government of Israel which allows us to raise areas of coordination, cooperation, but also raise issues where we disagree.”

He added the UK government had “highlighted” the need for Israel to “maintain a credible route to a viable Palestinian state.”

Labour’s shadow Middle East minister Bambos Charalambous then spoke, expressing “concern” at the “escalating violence in Israel and the West Bank” and “condemning the recent attacks” and the “deaths of civilians.”

The MP then raised further concern about the evictions of Palestinians “from their homes” and asked “what efforts have been taken to keep alive the prospect of a two state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable sovereign Palestine?”

Cleverly said:”I had a telephone conversation with the recently appointed Israeli foreign minister in which he “made clear that the UK’s long-standing position to peace in the region remains as passionate now as it ever was.”

The foreign secretary also refereed to the “deeply distressing” terror incidents in the region.