§ Ann ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by the UK Government to encourage the Israeli Government to lift the blockades in the Israeli occupied areas of the West Bank and Gaza. [3232]
§ Mr. BradshawWe have serious concerns with the Israeli policy of closures on political, legal and humanitarian grounds. It is hard to justify the closures, even on the narrow security grounds which Israel presents. The closures radicalise the Palestinian population and fuel violence in the occupied territories. They cannot, therefore, achieve their stated purpose. We continue to urge Israel to lift the closures, bilaterally, in ministerial and official level meetings, and collectively with our EU partners in statements and in the political dialogue established by the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Lifting the closures also forms part of the Mitchell Committee recommendations. It is vital that the parties move ahead with full and early implementation of those recommendations.