Middle East

Vikki Slade Excerpts
Monday 1st September 2025

(1 day, 23 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Lammy Portrait Mr Lammy
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Can I be very clear to my hon. Friend that Israel does not have a veto on our decision to recognise? I hear what has been said about a peacekeeping force, but I discussed these issues with the Secretary-General at the UN a few weeks ago and there are real tensions that Israel has put in the way with its ability to work with the UN. That is why I think it is doubtful that that will come to pass in the near term.

Vikki Slade Portrait Vikki Slade (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (LD)
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Back in May, I raised concerns about exemptions for licences for components that were going out to Israel. I wrote to the Foreign Secretary and it was passed on to the Department for Business and Trade. To date I have had no reply, so I have absolutely no idea whether those licences have been suspended and whether they are not being used. My residents are worried that while the licences are now for non-military items, the exemptions for licences may be used for things that could harm Palestinians. Will the Foreign Secretary please do all that he can to work with his colleagues in the Department for Business and Trade to make sure that we can get that reassurance?

David Lammy Portrait Mr Lammy
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Absolutely; I will take that up.