Israel and Palestine

Christine Jardine Excerpts

Tuesday 8th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Ed Miliband]

My hon. Friend raises an important point. As I talked about in my statement, through investment we have made a difference to the security of Jewish people across Britain. In a sense, we all have a responsibility on this issue, not just as politicians but as a society. I re-emphasise what I said in my statement, because it is so important: no British Jew should be held responsible for the actions of the Israeli Government. All of us—I really urge this of all Members—have a responsibility to transmit that message to the public, because whether through a combination of prejudice or ignorance, I am afraid that people often do not understand that lesson, and it leads to terrible antisemitism.

[Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) (LD)]

I also welcome not just the substance of the Foreign Secretary’s remarks today, but the tone, responsibility and commitment to a two-state solution. I know that that welcome will be reflected in my constituency among people of all faiths and none who have been profoundly affected both by what they have seen in the middle east over the past few years and by the tension they have felt rising in this country, which we have to address. What steps will the Foreign Secretary take to allow UK banks and corporate institutions to audit their own customer base to ensure that the supply chains are being dealt with properly?

[Ed Miliband]

We will look at all these issues as part of our sanctions regime. It is important to protect trade with green-line Israel and financial services within it as well, and that is why we want to be careful with this sanctions regime.

On the first part of the hon. Lady’s remarks, I thank her for what she said. I do feel a sense of humility. If I could just add this, Madam Deputy Speaker: as some in this House will know, my late mother, who died a few months ago, was a big campaigner on these issues, and I have thought quite a lot in this process about what she might be saying on these issues.