THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015
- Sir David Amess [presenting Petition “Stance of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Hamas”]: I am honoured to present a petition that has been signed by a number of Jewish people who live in my constituency. It was handed to me by a constituent, Mr Lewis Herlitz, on behalf of Fair Reporting. My constituency has a wonderful Jewish community, who are very concerned about the anti-Semitic sentiments that they believe are being fuelled by events in the middle east, and about the lack of clarity in the language being used by the Foreign Office regarding those events. The petition states: The Petition of residents in the Southend West constituency, Declares that the Petitioners believe that the Foreign Office view Hamas as a plausible negotiating partner for creating a peace agreement with Israel; further that the Petitioners believe that such a view is incorrect as Hamas’s own political charter clearly states that it seeks nothing less than the destruction of Israel; further that the Petitioners believe that the Foreign Office is unwilling to clearly declare that it deplores the use of civilians and civilian buildings by Hamas as part of Hamas’s warfare strategy; Hamas’s consequential abuse of civilian properties as places from which to launch attacks on Israel, and its abuse of civilians as human shields resulting in a disproportionate loss of life; further that the Petitioners believe that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, and is the only place in the Middle East where Christianity and other faiths can co-exist peacefully and thrive; further that a lack of clarity in support of Israel contributes to anti-Jewish sentiment; further that the Petitioners recognise the need for, and the rights of, the civilians of Gaza and other Arabs who live within and around Israel for a peaceable existence; and further that the Petitioners believe that the lack of demonstrable public clarity by the Foreign Office to support Israel and to deplore Hamas is deeply concerning. The Petitioners therefore urges the House of Commons to request that the Foreign Office explains its actions and views on Israel, and clarifies its view of and position on Hamas. And the Petitioners remain, etc. [P001436]
WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2015
- Ian Austin: What assessment has Foreign Secretary made of Hamas’s ability to fire long-range ballistic missiles?
- Ian Austin: What assessment has Foreign Secretary made of Hamas’s ability to develop and produce rockets?
- Ian Austin: What assessment has Foreign Secretary made of Hamas’s ability to smuggle explosive material into the Gaza Strip?
- Ian Austin: What reports has Foreign Secretary received of Hamas’s use of residential buildings to manufacture and store its rockets?
- Ian Austin: What recent reports has Foreign Secretary received on sources of funding for the terrorist activities of ISIL, Hezbollah and Hamas?
- Ian Austin: What assessment has Foreign Secretary made of the role of Hamas’s political wing as a source for the funding of Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades?
- Ian Austin: What reports has Foreign Secretary received of efforts by Hamas to rebuild tunnels?
- Ian Austin: What assessment has Foreign Secretary made of Hamas’ role in and steps taken to maintain the ceasefire announced in August 2014?
- Ian Austin: What recent assessment has Foreign Secretary made of the role played by Iran in Hamas’ rearmament?
- Ian Austin: What representations has Foreign Secretary made to the Palestinian leadership about human rights violations and measures to tackle extremism in the Gaza Strip?
- Ian Austin: What assessment has Foreign Secretary made of the effect of the UN Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism on controlling and monitoring the supply, distribution and use of building materials in the Gaza Strip?
- Ian Austin: What recent discussions has DfID Secretary had with her Palestinian counterpart on ensuring that the material used for the reconstruction of Gaza is not used by terrorists?
- Ian Austin: What assessment has DfID Secretary made of the effect of political and other divisions within the Palestinian unity government on international efforts to rebuild Gaza?
Nos 1-13 Commons Written Answers
- Baroness Tonge: What discussions have HMG held with the government of Israel concerning the recent attacks by settlers on Palestinians?
- Baroness Deech: Further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 6 January (HL3722), what assessment have they made of the kidnap and forcible conversion of Christians in Gaza and of attacks on Christian property there; and what evaluation have they made of the decrease in the Christian population in Gaza since 2007?
Nos 14-15 Lords Written Answers
TUESDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2015
1. Baroness Tonge: Do HMG plan to encourage Jewish faith leaders in the United Kingdom publicly to condemn settlement building by Israel and to make clear their support for universal human rights?
Lords Written Answers
MONDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2015
- Sir John Stanley: For what reason did the value of extant standard individual export licences to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories fall from £7.9 billion, as stated in the BIS Secretary’s letter of 12 May 2014 to the hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling, to £93 million, as stated in his letter of 15 December 2014 to the same hon. Member?
- Jeremy Corbyn: Have any licences been granted to UAV Engines Ltd since 1 January 2010 for the export of UAV engines or components to (a) the Israeli Defence Force or (b) other elements of Israel’s security forces; and will the BIS Secretary make a statement?
Nos 1-2 Commons Written Answers
- Baroness Tonge: Following the deaths of children from hypothermia in Gaza, do HMG intend to suggest the provision of alternative forms of housing there which do not require cement, for example the yurt?
Lords Written Answers