25 Feb
Question
Illegal Israeli Settler Violence

The Question session in the UK Parliament, focused on illegal Israeli settler violence, was marked by a profound concern over increasing violence in the West Bank, highlighted by multiple speakers urging for decisive action from the UK Government regarding sanctions and international law violations.

Key speakers included Wera Hobhouse and Anna Sabine, both from the Liberal Democrats, who questioned the Foreign Office's stance on sanctioning violent illegal Israeli settlers. They were supported by the Labor's Richard Burgon, calling for a ban on goods from illegal settlements.

Minister Mr Falconer repeatedly stressed the UK's position against commenting on potential future sanctions to preserve their potential impact and emphasized measures already in place under the global human rights regime. He addressed the need for stability in the West Bank, expressing serious concern over the displacement of 40,000 Palestinians and condemning inflammatory rhetoric from Israeli ministers.

Multiple MPs, including Sir Edward Leigh and Paul Waugh, emphasized their personal experiences witnessing distressing situations in the region, calling for robust international pressure on Israel to curb settler violence and resume peaceful negotiations.

40,000 Palestinians displaced

As a direct consequence of ongoing settler violence and military expansion in the West Bank.

Outcome: The session reinforced the UK’s diplomatic stance on encouraging Israel to mitigate settler violence, tackle illegal settlements, and uphold international human rights. However, it stopped short of indicating immediate new sanctions.

15 October sanctions

Three outposts and four entities linked to West Bank violence sanctioned under the global human rights regime.

Statistics:

  • 40,000 Palestinians: Displaced due to settler violence and related military operations.
  • Significant Date: On 15 October, sanctioning actions were taken against three outposts and four entities linked to violence in the West Bank.

Outcome

The session concluded without new sanction announcements but reiterated the UK's diplomatic approach regarding Israel's obligations under international law. The importance of stability and a decrease in violence remains pivotal in continued fragile ceasefire talks.

Key Contributions

Wera Hobhouse
Liberal Democrats

Expressed concern over increasing West Bank violence reported by the UN and frustrated constituents, questioned future sanctions on figures such as Minister Smotrich.

Anna Sabine
Liberal Democrats

Challenged the Minister on sanctioning to deter settler violence, emphasizing violence and settlement expansion concerns from constituents.

Mr Falconer

Acknowledged settler violence, detailed recent sanctions, condemned inflammatory rhetoric from Israeli ministers, and stressed the need for restraint.

Richard Burgon
Labour

Called for banning goods from illegal settlements, highlighted military operations deploying tanks in the West Bank, emphasizing contraventions of international law.

Melanie Ward
Labour

Questioned UK government’s action plan to prevent the escalation of tensions similar to Gaza in the West Bank, underlining recent violent actions in Jerusalem.

Sir Edward Leigh
Conservative

Described personal experiences of violence and intimidation in Israel, emphasized the need for collective action against extremist settlers, aligning with moderate Israeli interests.

Paul Waugh
Labour

Described observed violence by settlers, including attacks on Palestinian children and property, demanding firm UK action in solidarity with peaceful solutions.

Original Transcript
Wera Hobhouse
Bath
LD
Question
UIN: 902805

5. What assessment he has made of the potential merits of sanctioning violent illegal Israeli settlers.

Anna Sabine
Frome and East Somerset
LD
Question
UIN: 902824

23. What assessment he has made of the potential merits of sanctioning violent illegal Israeli settlers.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Mr Hamish Falconer
11:47

Settler violence is unacceptable. On 15 October the UK sanctioned three outposts and four entities linked to violence in the west bank under the global human rights regime. Those measures will help bring accountability to those who have supported and perpetrated such heinous abuses of human rights.

The Government do not comment on future sanctions measures, as to do so would reduce their impact.

Wera Hobhouse
11:47

Comments made yesterday by the UN Secretary-General about increasing violence in the west bank by Israeli settlers have shocked my Bath constituents and people across the country, and Members across the House are frustrated by the lack of action.

Will the Government sanction those who advocate for that violence, especially Minister Smotrich and former Minister Ben-Gvir?

Mr Falconer
11:48

We have condemned the unacceptable language that has been used by Israeli Minister Bezalel Smotrich and former Minister Mr Ben-Gvir.

The Foreign Secretary, and all Ministers, have been clear with their Israeli counterparts that the Israeli Government must clamp down on settler violence, as the Foreign Secretary said earlier, and end the settlement expansion.

As I said in my original answer, we will not comment on future sanctions, as to do so could reduce their impact.

Anna Sabine
11:48

Many people in my constituency are passionate about resolving the situation between Israel and Palestine, and there are concerns that violence in the west bank has increased and illegal settlements have continued to expand.

Does the Minister agree that if he also wants to see a reduction in settler violence, we should be considering sanctioning those settlements?

Mr Falconer

I am seriously concerned by the expansion of Israel’s operations in the west bank, and 40,000 Palestinians have reportedly been displaced. Palestinians must be allowed home, civilians must be protected, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure minimised.

Stability is essential at this crucial time. We recognise Israel’s security concerns, but it must show restraint and ensure that its operations are commensurate with the threat posed. I refer to my previous answer on sanctions.

Richard Burgon
Leeds East
Lab
11:49

Israel has sent tanks to the west bank for the first time in 20 years, and some 40,000 Palestinians are being displaced from refugee camps there.

The very least that should be done to stop these contraventions of international law is to impose a ban on Israeli goods coming from illegal Israeli settlements, so I ask the Minister: is it now the time to do that?

Mr Falconer
11:50

We call for trade to be done in the proper way. There are clear provisions around where Israeli goods are produced. We do not recognise illegal settlements. Produce must be properly labelled and there is clear advice to business on that basis.

Melanie Ward
Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy
Lab
11:50

The Government and their partners are doing important work to support the continuation of the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, but in the west bank, as well as increased settler attacks we have seen Israeli forces attack a Palestinian bookshop in east Jerusalem, UNRWA schools closed, tanks moving into refugee camps and the forced displacement of some 40,000 Palestinians.

What action are the Government taking to prevent the Gaza-isation of the west bank?

Mr Falconer
11:50

As I said in my previous answer, we are following events in the west bank closely. Stability in the west bank is crucial to ensuring that the fragile ceasefire in Gaza can last. All sides should work to ensure a lowering of tension in the west bank at this time.

It is in no one’s interest for further conflict and instability to spread in the west bank.

Mr Speaker

I call the Father of the House.

Sir Edward Leigh
Gainsborough
Con
11:50

A week ago, I was in a Palestinian village with colleagues, including the hon. Member for Rochdale (Paul Waugh). We went to a school that had been demolished by illegal settlers. Immediately, two punks turned up with sub-machine guns, intimidating us—that is happening all over the place.

We went to Hebron. It is completely closed down. This is appalling. The whole House should unite against the extremist Jewish settlers and the illegal settlements, because it is not in the interest of moderate Israeli opinion. It is directly contrary to peace and we must fight this. [Hon.

Members: “Hear, hear.

Mr Falconer
11:51

The Father of the House, my constituency neighbour, can hear the strong support for his remarks from Members on the Government Benches.

Paul Waugh
Rochdale
Lab/Co-op
11:52

As the Father of the House just referenced, I was in Israel, on the west bank, last week, and two things became instantly clear.

There was widespread revulsion at the sickening desecration of the bodies of the Israeli hostages by Hamas, and there was widespread fear among Palestinians, particularly those in rural areas whom we met, who had first-hand experience of their children having stones thrown at them by settlers, their neighbours having their cars torched and their own windscreens being smashed every night.

Will the Minister reassure us that those extremist settlers will be dealt with really thoroughly in our foreign policy?

Mr Falconer

My hon. Friend sets out some of the horrific scenes that have come out of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in recent weeks. I restate our opposition to a further expansion of extremist settler violence and illegal settlement.

All content derived from official parliamentary records