Israel move into West Bank ‘counter-productive’ – Raab
BRITAIN has insisted that any further attempts by Israel to annex parts of the occupied West Bank will be “counter-productive to peace” in the region.
Labour accused the UK Government of a “deafening” silence over the issue, a claim Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab distanced himself from in the Commons.
Mr Raab said he had spoken to Palestinian and Israeli leaders, adding to MPs: “We make clear on all sides the United Kingdom’s consistent position that we want to see a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders.
“We acutely feel the vacuum without talks is very dangerous. We want to see talks proceed, that’s why we’re working with partners in the region.
“And let me be absolutely crystal clear to the House: we’ve made clear that any annexation – partial or full – in relation to further territory in the occupied territories and the West Bank would be both contrary to international law but also counterproductive to peace.”
Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy earlier said: “World leaders are warning of consequences should annexation go ahead, but the silence from this Government has been deafening.
“So much so that the Israeli newspaper Haaretz says France is now the world’s last best hope to stop annexation. This really is shameful.
“I raised my concerns with the US Ambassador; has (Foreign Office minister James Cleverly)? Will he commit to a ban on settlement imports and recognise Palestine as this House voted to do?
“Forgive me, I may have missed it, but if he won’t do those things, can he tell us exactly what he is proposing to do?”
Mr Cleverly responded: “The UK remains a friend and ally to the state of Israel and a good friend to the Palestinian people.
“It is tempting, and I’m sure it would placate certain voices on the left of the political spectrum, to stamp our feet, to bang the table.
“What we will continue to do is dissuade a friend and ally in the state of Israel from taking a course of action which we believe will be against their own interests, and will do so in the most effective means possible.”
The exchanges come after the UN’s human rights chief said Israel’s plan to begin annexing parts of the occupied West Bank would have “disastrous” consequences for the region, issuing her dire warning as senior US and Israeli officials were meeting in Jerusalem trying to finalise the move.
The warning by Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, added to the growing chorus of international voices urging Israel not to carry out its plan.
The UN secretary-general, the European Union and key Arab countries have all spoken out against annexation, saying it would violate international law and all but destroy any remaining hopes of establishing a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel.
“The precise consequences of annexation cannot be predicted,” Ms Bachelet said on Monday in a statement issued by her office in Geneva.
“But they are likely to be disastrous for the Palestinians, for Israel itself, and for the wider region.”