Considerable numbers of constituents have emailed me about the situation in Israel recently. I will make my opinion very clear on what is recognisably a deeply divisive topic.
Firstly, I agree wholeheartedly with the Government’s policy to proscribe Hamas as a terrorist organisation and the Government’s backing of Israel to defend its borders. The butchering of over 1,400 innocent Israelis, with another 200 taken hostage must be condemned in the strongest terms which is why I signed the All-Party British-Israel Parliamentary Group’s letter along with over 300 other MPs shortly after the attack.
Israel is a legitimate democratic state whose citizens have the right to live without fear of attack. In this new war against Hamas, Israel has the right to remove all terrorists from the Gaza strip in order to ensure the safety of its people, as any other country would after being attacked.
Iran is the main terror funder to Hamas
Humanitarian relief is also needed for the Palestinians caught in this warfare. I support the British government’s decision to increase aid to Palestinians by a third since the attack, and Royal Navy’s deployment to the region to aid the humanitarian response. There will never, however, be a peaceful two-state solution while Hamas controls Palestinian territory, which is why I call for the Government to strengthen its sanctions on the Iranian state, which has been bankrolling Hamas.
"Israel has the right to remove all terrorists from the Gaza strip in order to ensure the safety of its people, as any other country would after being attacked."
Hezbollah terrorist supporter in London
I have also been sickened to see across this country ‘celebrations’ of the attack on Israel last weekend. Antisemitism has absolutely no place in our society and I condemn it in the strongest terms. I am therefore pleased to hear that the Prime Minister has provided £3 million for the Community Security Trust to protect Jewish schools and synagogues.
