Any chance of an honest broker?

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Recent weeks have seen a significant increase in human rights violations in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, particularly by the Israeli authorities directed at Palestinian civilians. This is unnecessary and deeply concerning.

I condemn any attack or killing of civilians no matter from what quarter. My sympathies are with the families of those who have lost loved ones.

Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian land must end.

The current precarious security situation has been exacerbated by Israel’s new extreme right-wing Government. A Government that has set out a discriminatory approach against Palestinians.

I am unashamedly an advocate for the human rights of Palestinians, but I also want to see a future where Israel exists in harmony with its neighbours and at peace with itself, as a partner for progress in humanity. That can properly happen only once the occupation of Palestine ends.

There is no room in the current Government’s approach for a two-state solution and an independent state of Palestine. Therefore, it is time to stop pretending that the current Israeli Government is a good actor when everything it is doing on the ground removes the building blocks that would be needed to ever move towards a two-state solution.

It’s time to stop pretending that the current far-right Israeli Government believes in a long-term two-state solution.

For me, the increase in violence underscores the need for international justice accountability measures to be meaningfully implemented to hold the Israeli authorities and all other alleged perpetrators to account for their crimes.

Yet while other countries have used diplomatic pressure to try and curb the Israeli Government’s actions, Sunak invited Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to London, rolled out the red carpet for him and signed an agreement that made no reference to human rights abuses or the upholding of international law.

How can the UK claim to be an honest broker for peace when it fails to uphold the rights of Palestinians?

I can’t help but think that the UK Government has become an expert in appearing to address these serious human rights concerns, but in reality fails to take any concrete action. I recently asked the UK Government what it will take for them to step up diplomatic pressure on Israel, exercise its responsibilities under international law and uphold the rights of Palestinians. Here's my exchange with the Minister:

“Any judgement on serious crimes under international law is a matter for judicial decision rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies.”

His response was completely inadequate and highlighted the Government’s inconsistent approach towards international accountability mechanisms.

For example, while the UK has led on and supported several UN resolutions establishing investigations into alleged breaches of international law by countries other than Israel, it opposed and continues to speak against the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel.

I wrote to the Foreign Secretary following this woeful response to urge the UK Government to support international accountability mechanisms concerning human rights violations consistently – including where applicable to friends and allies.

The time is now for the UK Government to start putting their money where their mouth is. They must unequivocally champion human rights around the world, and no longer turn the other way when it is not politically expedient to call out what they see.

If Israel continues to face no concrete consequences from allies such as the UK for its continued, serious breaches of international law and human rights violations, it is not just the prospects for peace, security and access to human rights for both Palestinian and Israeli citizens that are damaged, but the international rules-based system itself.

If you would like to hear more about the current human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, please join me for a special presentation followed by a Q&A session with independent Human Rights Monitor Bryn Higgs on Friday 28th April from 13:00 – 14:00 in Bellfield, 16B Bellfield St, Portobello, Edinburgh EH15 2BP.

Bryn will present his findings on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories following a three-month posting in the Palestinian city of Hebron. Due to limited room capacity, please register your attendance by clicking the below button or responding to this email.

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Tommy Sheppard MP

94 Portobello High Street

Edinburgh, EH15 1AN

United Kingdom

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