Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor: Citizenship

Debate between Baroness Chakrabarti and Lord Wood of Anfield

Thursday 17th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chakrabarti]

To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they have made representations to the government of Israel regarding the citizenship of documentary film directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Lord Wood of Anfield) (Lab)]

My Lords, we support freedom of expression, including artistic freedom. We have not made representations to the Government of Israel, but we expect any action affecting an individual’s citizenship or civil rights to be conducted in accordance with the rule of law and with due process. Democracy and the rule of law are among Israel’s founding values. These are vital to a secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.

[Baroness Chakrabarti (Lab)]

I am grateful to my noble friend the Minister, not least because I know of his long-term commitment to the arts in general and filmmaking, I think, in particular. I wonder how we remind ourselves, let alone persuade friends and allies, that in a democracy dissent is not disloyalty but the test of democratic values. Given the excellent debate on the first Question, on G20 priorities, can my noble friend say a little more on Foreign Office work and priorities around promoting rights and freedoms in general?

[Lord Wood of Anfield (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for that question and pay tribute to her long-standing commitment to rights, freedoms and the rule of law for many years. She is absolutely right that dissent is the test of the health of democracy, and we remain concerned about reports of threats and intimidation directed at journalists, filmmakers and others. I am pleased to say that the Foreign Office takes media freedom extremely seriously. We chair a coalition on media freedom. My ministerial friend Chris Elmore talked about this issue to the Foreign Affairs Committee in recent months. It is going to continue to be a priority, not just in the Middle East but elsewhere.