An LFI delegation of Labour parliamentarians visited Israel and the Palestinian Territories as the region marked 600 days since the 7 October attacks which sparked the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The delegation, led by LFI chair Jon Pearce MP, included Labour Members of Parliament Cat Eccles, Kevin McKenna, Peter Prinsley and Mark Sewards, all Read more…
At today’s statement on the situation in the Middle East, Minister Hamish Falconer MP reiterated the government’s position on the conflict in Gaza and condemned the recent Houthi attack on Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. On the Houthi attack over the weekend, he said: “I absolutely condemn the Houthis’ continued Read more…
At today’s statement from on the visit of Palestinian Authority prime minister Mustafa, Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer clearly set out the government’s position regarding the circumstances in which the UK would recognise Palestinian statehood. He said: “Some 147 states have recognised a Palestinian state, yet no Palestinian state is Read more…
At today’s statement from on the visit of Palestinian Authority prime minister Mustafa, Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer discussed a number of points of UK policy towards the Middle East. He began: “During the visit, we reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to advancing a two-state solution as the only pathway to Read more…
At today’s statement from the Middle East Minister on the visit to London of Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mustafa, several Labour MPs raised the fate of the 59 remaining hostages and the current situation in the West Bank. Wirral West MP Matthew Patrick asked: “I welcome the Government’s commitment to Read more…
LFI chair Jon Pearce MP has written the below article for Jewish News. Click here to read the original. As chair of Labour Friends of Israel, last week I became the first British MP to travel between Israel and the UAE – an unimaginable reality before the historic Abraham Accords in 2020. Read more…
At today’s Urgent Question on the Israeli Government’s announcement that they are expanding their military operations in Gaza, Labour MPs Jon Pearce and Blair McDougall asked what steps the government was taking to strengthen moderate voices for peace in Israel and Palestine. LFI chair Jon Pearce asked: “The resumption of Read more…
At today’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Questions session, Mansfield MP Steve Yemm raised the prospect of UK leadership on the International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace with the Foreign Secretary. He asked: “The Prime Minister’s commitment to host an international meeting this year in support of an international fund for Israeli-Palestinian Read more…
At today’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Questions session, Foreign Secretary David Lammy made clear the government’s understanding of “legitimate concerns about security on the Israeli side and the way that Iran, sitting behind the scenes, is equipping some terrorist groups with guns and ammunition. We have to do our best Read more…
LFI chair Jon Pearce became the first British MP to travel directly between Israel and the United Arab Emirates on a visit to the region this week. While in Israel, the Labour MP for High Peak met with Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, opposition leader Yair Lapid, and the leader of the Democrats, Yair Golan, as Read more…
At today’s Private Notice Question on the ceasefire in Gaza, Foreign Office Minister Lord Collins of Highbury confirmed the Government’s view that “there is no role for Hamas in the future of Gaza”. He said: “As I have repeatedly said to the noble Lord in this Chamber, we are committed Read more…
It is tragic and heartbreaking to see the resumption of hostilities in Gaza. Our thoughts are with both the Israeli hostages imprisoned by Hamas and their families, and with innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Over the past two weeks, Hamas has rejected two concrete hostage deal proposals which would have Read more…