There was a House of Commons Debate on the Middle East today. I had hoped to speak in the debate, but was not called this time. Such is the way of the Commons. Nevertheless, I thought you might like to see the speech I had prepared:
by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com
The withdrawal from Gaza
In 2005 when Israeli PM Ariel Sharon oversaw Israeli withdrawal from every inch of the Gaza Strip, the overriding feeling in the world was one of hope and optimism. It was hoped that success in Gaza would lead to withdrawal from much of the West Bank.
Hamas takeover Gaza
Instead, over five years we have seen the Hamas coup in Gaza Strip, vanquishing moderate Palestinians. Gaza has become a terrorist stateb . Over 5,000 missiles have been fired into Israel since Hamas takeover in June 2007. Terrorists continue to infiltrate Israel from Gaza to execute brutal terror attacks. Weapons and explosives - supplied by backers Iran and Syria - are continuously smuggled into the Strip to be used against Israeli citizens and territory. This sort of situation is untenable. No country can be expected to live under this sort of pressure.
Perhaps this goes some way to explaining the reasons behind the blockade of the Gaza strip. Both Israel and Egypt – we must remember Egypt have a border with Gaza as well - have imposed a blockade on goods and materials coming in and out of the Gaza Strip.
Flotilla Incident
And so I come to the events of Monday 31 May.
The loss of life incurred during Israel’s raid on the flotilla bound for Gaza was without question deeply tragic. Any decent human being weeps for those who lost their lives or suffered injuries.
It must be noted that 5 of the 6 ships were peacefully intercepted and safely docked at the Israeli port of Ashdod without incident. Unfortunately, a significant minority of ‘activists’ on the Mavi Marmara reacted with extreme violence to the Israeli military personnel.
The ensuing violence was shocking and profoundly upsetting. A detailed inquiry into the events is needed, but it has become apparent that these ‘activists’ had prepared for violence by accruing various weapons, amongst which were knives and sharpened metal bars.
Security footage on the boat shows these men preparing their ambush and television images have shown these same individuals chanting horrific anti-Semitic songs. Before the incident, various spokesmen for the flotilla stressed that the intention was to make a political statement and “break the siege” rather than delivering the aid itself.
Behind this provocative political statement, was a Turkish fundamentalist organisation, known as IHH, which appears to have a record of supporting violence and terrorism.
Blockade on Gaza
Some colleagues focus on the Blockade, as the root of all difficulties. As so often, the reality on the ground is quite different.
Since January 2009, 0ne million tonnes of aid have reached Gaza from Israel. 15,000 tonnes of aid are delivered into Gaza, from Israel, every single week. I myself have visited the Kerem Shalom crossing point at the Israeli/Gaza border and witnessed hundreds of trucks of aid being delivered into the Strip.
We ought to be actively supporting Israel to stop the blockade. Rather than demanding that all borders are opened indiscriminately, we need to begin to understand the complexities of Israel’s predicament. Israel is straddling the line between humanitarian responsibility and very real national security concerns.
I ask the Minister what steps the British Government and the international community are taking to provide real solutions to the problem of smuggling into Gaza?
Hamas vs moderates
Some people are using recent events to attack not just Israel’s actions, but as a smokescreen to attack the philosophical underpinnings of Israel itself. This must be addressed.
Israel is a sovereign state, and has the right to defend itself.
We in the UK must not lose sight of the fact that to have any hope of peace in the Middle East we must continue to pressure Hamas to renounce terrorism and violence. Hamas need to know that the fundamental Quartet Principles remain rigidly in place. Would the Minister give assurances that the Government still holds this view and remains resolute on this issue?
The reality is that Israel, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority and the West have a shared interest in preventing Hamas from being strengthened. Strengthening the PA and ensuring that a moderate national unity government is established in Gaza and the West Bank should be our focus.
It is encouraging that the Israeli and Palestinian delegations have continuing the proximity talks mediated by the United States. What steps are now being taken to bolster the government of President Mahmoud Abbas and PM Salam Fayyad?
Mr Speaker, Flotilla or nor Flotilla, blockade or no blockade, we must never forget that Israel, a democratic state, is battling for its survival against an enemy that seeks its destruction. The West faces the same enemy on the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq. A free and just Palestinian State and a secure Israel will only come about, when these terrorist movements have been vanquished, and when states like Iran and Syria, become the democracies that their peoples so richly deserve.
In 2005 when Israeli PM Ariel Sharon oversaw Israeli withdrawal from every inch of the Gaza Strip, the overriding feeling in the world was one of hope and optimism. It was hoped that success in Gaza would lead to withdrawal from much of the West Bank.
Hamas takeover Gaza
Instead, over five years we have seen the Hamas coup in Gaza Strip, vanquishing moderate Palestinians. Gaza has become a terrorist stateb . Over 5,000 missiles have been fired into Israel since Hamas takeover in June 2007. Terrorists continue to infiltrate Israel from Gaza to execute brutal terror attacks. Weapons and explosives - supplied by backers Iran and Syria - are continuously smuggled into the Strip to be used against Israeli citizens and territory. This sort of situation is untenable. No country can be expected to live under this sort of pressure.
Perhaps this goes some way to explaining the reasons behind the blockade of the Gaza strip. Both Israel and Egypt – we must remember Egypt have a border with Gaza as well - have imposed a blockade on goods and materials coming in and out of the Gaza Strip.
Flotilla Incident
And so I come to the events of Monday 31 May.
The loss of life incurred during Israel’s raid on the flotilla bound for Gaza was without question deeply tragic. Any decent human being weeps for those who lost their lives or suffered injuries.
It must be noted that 5 of the 6 ships were peacefully intercepted and safely docked at the Israeli port of Ashdod without incident. Unfortunately, a significant minority of ‘activists’ on the Mavi Marmara reacted with extreme violence to the Israeli military personnel.
The ensuing violence was shocking and profoundly upsetting. A detailed inquiry into the events is needed, but it has become apparent that these ‘activists’ had prepared for violence by accruing various weapons, amongst which were knives and sharpened metal bars.
Security footage on the boat shows these men preparing their ambush and television images have shown these same individuals chanting horrific anti-Semitic songs. Before the incident, various spokesmen for the flotilla stressed that the intention was to make a political statement and “break the siege” rather than delivering the aid itself.
Behind this provocative political statement, was a Turkish fundamentalist organisation, known as IHH, which appears to have a record of supporting violence and terrorism.
Blockade on Gaza
Some colleagues focus on the Blockade, as the root of all difficulties. As so often, the reality on the ground is quite different.
Since January 2009, 0ne million tonnes of aid have reached Gaza from Israel. 15,000 tonnes of aid are delivered into Gaza, from Israel, every single week. I myself have visited the Kerem Shalom crossing point at the Israeli/Gaza border and witnessed hundreds of trucks of aid being delivered into the Strip.
We ought to be actively supporting Israel to stop the blockade. Rather than demanding that all borders are opened indiscriminately, we need to begin to understand the complexities of Israel’s predicament. Israel is straddling the line between humanitarian responsibility and very real national security concerns.
I ask the Minister what steps the British Government and the international community are taking to provide real solutions to the problem of smuggling into Gaza?
Hamas vs moderates
Some people are using recent events to attack not just Israel’s actions, but as a smokescreen to attack the philosophical underpinnings of Israel itself. This must be addressed.
Israel is a sovereign state, and has the right to defend itself.
We in the UK must not lose sight of the fact that to have any hope of peace in the Middle East we must continue to pressure Hamas to renounce terrorism and violence. Hamas need to know that the fundamental Quartet Principles remain rigidly in place. Would the Minister give assurances that the Government still holds this view and remains resolute on this issue?
The reality is that Israel, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority and the West have a shared interest in preventing Hamas from being strengthened. Strengthening the PA and ensuring that a moderate national unity government is established in Gaza and the West Bank should be our focus.
It is encouraging that the Israeli and Palestinian delegations have continuing the proximity talks mediated by the United States. What steps are now being taken to bolster the government of President Mahmoud Abbas and PM Salam Fayyad?
Mr Speaker, Flotilla or nor Flotilla, blockade or no blockade, we must never forget that Israel, a democratic state, is battling for its survival against an enemy that seeks its destruction. The West faces the same enemy on the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq. A free and just Palestinian State and a secure Israel will only come about, when these terrorist movements have been vanquished, and when states like Iran and Syria, become the democracies that their peoples so richly deserve.
It was a good debate, with all sides of the argument represented. It showed the Commons at its best - debating an issue with great seriousness, and much thought. Although I was not called by Mr Speaker on this occasion, I was glad to be in the Chamber. The day reminded me that being an MP is about listening as well as much as talking.
by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com
Super, just wonderful to read this blog.
ReplyDeleteRobert, I commend you for your balanced and reasoned position on the situation. No supporter of Israel believes Israel always does the right thing. However, we know that in some eyes Israel is always wrong.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to me to be something wrong with the official Government line as articulated by William Hague's statement on the Flotilla incident.
It conflates two issues:-
1. The legality of an Israeli blockade of Gaza by restricting what goods are allowed to be passed to them.
2. The UN's own Resolution 1860 on the Gaza Ceasefire http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2009/sc9567.doc.htm
Of relevance one should note the sentence "The resolution sets out urgent tasks for the international community and calls on United Nations Member States to intensify their efforts to provide arrangements and guarantees in Gaza to sustain a durable ceasefire and calm, including to prevent illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition"
It confers the right of Israel to search any ship bound for Gaza that it suspects may be carrying arms for Gaza - and any materiel which helps to arm Hamas including money.
In fact the USA stopped an Iranian ship suspected of smuggling arms http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,481483,00.html
Israel has a right under Res 1860 to stop ships bound for Gaza.
You are right that the goods aboard the ship that were genuine humanitarian aid are NOT stopped but taken to Ashdod where they are transported to Gaza.
The lifting of the blockade is inconsitent with the right to have a controlled border to interdict the possibility that a shipment carries arms.
One cannot demand the lifting of the aid blockade restrictions without compromising Res 1860.
Why doesn't William Hauge understand that?
All the Best,
"Someone you once met at Portcullis House!"