Contributions
1,541 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansI do believe that wherever there are incidents against humanitarian workers, including the one that my hon. Friend mentions, there must be full accountability.07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansI know that my neighbour, the Father of the House, the right hon. Member for Gainsborough (Sir Edward Leigh), has also been on such a delegation. Like the hon. Member, he reported…07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansMy hon. Friend, who is so committed to these issues, has been discussing them with me and others for many years. He is right to highlight the important work of Yachad, which has…07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansI do indeed accept, as do the British Government, that every Government have the right to control who comes in. More fool Russia and Belarus for taking the position that they have…07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansIt is the right of the Israeli Government to decide who visits. They can exercise that right as they see fit. I am sure they will hear from right across the whole House Members’…07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansI will not be cowed by what has happened to my colleagues.07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansThat is a decent and honourable contribution, and I thank the right hon. Member for it.07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansAs I said in answer to a previous question, we have taken action since we became the Government. We will continue to talk to the Israeli Government. They are, as many Members have…07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansI am not sure how many more times I need to say the position about Israel’s right to control who enters its border, but I am happy to reiterate it one more time.07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansThis Government have taken action. We have taken action since the day we formed the Government. I would be happy to rehearse those things, whether it is the arms suspensions, the…07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansI have talked about the importance of international humanitarian law, as has the Foreign Secretary and many other Ministers of this Government, at this Dispatch Box, at some…07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansConscious of time, I will not relitigate the many points that the hon. Member has raised with me in the past. I will simply say that I stand by the remarks in the statement, and…07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansI stick by the characterisation in my statement.07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansI have covered this ground recently, and it remains as it was. We took a principled position in relation to the suspension of certain arms licences in September, and that remains…07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansMy hon. Friend speaks with real force, and I agree with her condemnation of the Leader of the Opposition’s comments.07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansI agree. There are many friends of Israel in this House, many of whom are disappointed by the events of the weekend.07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansWe went through many of these issues in some detail last Wednesday, and I am sure that I will return to this House to do so again. My position remains as it was on Wednesday.07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansMy right hon. Friend speaks with force, and I condemn the position taken by Opposition Front Benchers. We have just heard from a fairly trenchant advocate for free speech; I…07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansWe will continue to work with the Israeli Government and all parties in the region to try to ensure that there is a return to substantive talks, and a return to the ceasefire that…07 Apr 2025HANSARD Israel: Refusal of Entry for UK ParliamentariansWe consider the actions of the Israeli Government to be not just regrettable but counterproductive, for the reasons that Members on the Opposition Benches have stated. It is so…07 Apr 2025