This is a critical time for the Middle East Peace Process. The crisis in Gaza has underlined the urgent need for concrete progress towards peace in the Middle East. We want hope and security to take the place of poverty, insecurity, and despair.

The UK’s position on the Arab-Israeli conflict is clear. We believe that there is no viable alternative to a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders: a democratic and viable state of Palestine must live peacefully alongside an Israel secure from attack and recognised by its neighbours. Jerusalem must be the capital for both, with a just settlement for refugees.

The Arab Peace Initiative is an excellent basis for progress towards these goals. We are working with our partners – including the EU and the new US Administration – to pursue the peace process with vigour.

On 11 May 2009, Foreign Secretary David Miliband attended the UN Security Council debate on the Middle East. His statement called for bold decisions to meet the challenges in the region.

The UK’s position

Actions by both Israelis and Palestinians have contributed to the crisis that has characterised their relationship in recent years. We are friends of both the Israelis and the Palestinians, and we believe that this gives us the opportunity to talk openly and frankly to both sides to encourage them towards peace. We continue to help support the peace talks.

Israel

Israel's security concerns

The UK acknowledges and understands Israel’s legitimate concerns over its national security. Israel’s interests are linked with those of the 22 states of the Arab League, and an essential aspect of the two-state solution is that Israel be not only officially recognised by its neighbours, but also feel safe from aggression. The Arab Peace Initiative is a key basis for progress.

The negative effect that the continued rocket attacks against Israel have on the peace process should not be underestimated.

Condemnation of anti-semitism  

Anti-Semitic sentiment - including physical and verbal abuse - is unacceptable whether it occurs in the Middle East, in the UK, or anywhere else. The same is true for all forms of racism or xenophobia. 

Sanctions

We do not believe that imposing sanctions is the best way to engage or to influence Israel. It would advance neither Britain’s influence nor the prospects for peace in the Middle East.

However, when deciding specifically whether or not to export arms, Britain considers each export licence on a case-by-case basis and behaviour in recent conflicts is always taken into account during the review process. 

Disproportionate response

Whilst being sympathetic to the legitimate security concerns of Israel, the UK is concerned by some of Israel’s actions in Gaza. We are gravely concerned about allegations made by credible organisations such as the UN and Red Cross. We expect, and urge, Israel to investigate allegations of abuses by their forces. British Embassy officials in Tel Aviv continue to make this clear to the Israeli authorities.

The Palestinians

 

We are committed to the establishment of a viable Palestinian state and, over three years, we plan to provide over £250 million to help the Palestinian people and build the institutions of a future Palestinian State.

Condemnation of militant attacks

The UK condemns strongly all attacks on Israel as well as any support for groups committed to this aggression. 

Hamas

The UK, along with its international partners, has always made clear its desire to work with those who are committed to peaceful progress in the region. Due to the actions that Hamas has taken, we do not believe it is productive to talk to them directly until it makes significant movement towards the Quartet principles of rejecting violence, accepting the existence of Israel and recognising previous agreements.

However, we support the Arab League’s decision to Egypt to communicate with Hamas. We are in regular contact with both the Arab League and Egypt. Turkey, Syria, Qatar and others are also speaking to Hamas.

The two-state solution

 

The UK believes that there is no viable alternative to a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders: a democratic and viable state of Palestine must live peacefully alongside an Israel secure from attack and recognised by its neighbours. Jerusalem must be the capital for both, with a just settlement for refugees.

We are convinced that only a comprehensive peace in the area can be lasting: a peace with an independent Palestinian state at its core, underpinned by a broader peace between Israel and the whole Arab world. In other words, a 23-state solution: 22 members of the Arab League plus Israel.

The crisis in Gaza has demonstrated further the urgent need for a lasting peace in the Middle East. Throughout 2009 Britain will continue to work with its European allies and the US to push for a comprehensive solution.

For the two-state solution to be successful, both Israel and the Palestinian Authority need to uphold previous commitments. These include promises on illegal Israeli settlements and on access to and movement within the OPTs. Steps now need to be taken by both Israel and the Arab world to rebuild build trust and improve the situation on the ground for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Settlements

The Roadmap signed in 2003 sets out the steps the Palestinian Authority and Israel need to take to achieve a negotiated settlement. Both sides have signed up to the Roadmap, and both Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas renewed their commitment to the Roadmap obligations at the Annapolis Conference in November 2007.

Among other things, these obligations require that the Government of Israel freeze all settlement-building in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) and dismantle all settlement outposts.

The UK considers that Israeli settlement building anywhere in the OPTs is illegal under international law. This includes settlements in both East Jerusalem and the West Bank. They are also a very real source of anger to the Palestinian people undermining their faith in Israel’s commitment to peace.

The Foreign Secretary spoke out against settlement activity during his visit to Israel and the OPTs in November 2008 and has said on numerous occasions that continued settlement construction is an obstacle to peace. The Prime Minister also spelt this out very clearly during his visit to the region in July 2008, including in his speech to the Israeli Knesset. We are working to identify constructive ways to discourage illegal settlement activity, including ensuring that settlement activity is not inadvertently encouraged by UK and EU policies. 

Jerusalem

The status of Jerusalem has been contentious for decades, and indeed throughout history. Israel maintains that Jerusalem is its capital city, but the international community does not recognise this claim. The UK’s embassy in Israel is in Tel Aviv, not Jerusalem. In East Jerusalem we have a Consulate-General, with a Consul-General who is not accredited to any state: this is an expression of our view that currently no state has sovereignty over Jerusalem.

A cornerstone of the two-state solution is that Jerusalem should be the capital for both Israel and any new Palestinian state. The UK remains committed to this goal.

Movement and access

The restrictions placed by the Israeli government on the movement of Palestinians have a serious humanitarian and economic impact in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Continued or increased use of checkpoints, roadblocks, curfews, a permit system and the barrier severely restrict the ability of Palestinians to move within the West Bank.

Despite recent improvements in the West Bank economy, such restrictions remain a key reason for the sharp decline in the Palestinian economy since 2000. GDP per capita has fallen by more than 40 per cent since 1999, and investment levels have halved.

The UK has called on the Israeli Government and Palestinian Authority to implement the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access. We support the work of the Quartet Representative, Tony Blair, to improve the flow of trade, goods, services and people across the West Bank.

The Israeli barrier

While we recognise Israel’s right to self-defence and to protect its citizens, it has been our longstanding position that any barrier must be built on Israeli territory.

The barrier along the chosen route is contrary to international law and continues to have a highly detrimental impact upon the lives and livelihoods of Palestinians affected by the barrier’s route.

Other UK government work

DfID

The Department for International Development (DfID) is a key part of the UK’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Following the recent Gaza conflict, for example, officials from DfID worked with implementers on the ground in Gaza to get a clear picture of the immediate needs of the population, the challenges going forward, and how best the UK could contribute. The UK has pledged almost £50m to Gaza. We have allocated part of this money to aid agencies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and British charities like Oxfam and Islamic Relief.

Recent Visit

The Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, visited Gaza at the beginning of March 2009. He went to areas affected by the recent conflict and heard first-hand accounts of civilian experiences during the fighting, including casualties and destruction.

Mr Alexander also met the Israeli Minister of Social Affairs during his visit to the region. He expressed understanding for Israel’s security concerns but also raised Israel’s limiting of humanitarian access to Gaza.

MoD

We have offered to redeploy naval resources to help stop arms smuggling into Gaza. We are working closely with the EU, US and regional partners to establish how best our expertise can be used. UK officials attended a counter-smuggling meeting in Copenhagen in February 2009 and hosted a follow-up meeting in London in March, where a draft plan of action was agreed.