I feel very strongly about the need for justice in the Middle East. By way of context, I was in the OPT at the time of the Gaza War in 2009 and I expressed then my grave concerns at the building of illegal settlements, including Ma’ale Adumim which I visited and is home to over 30,000 people. I have repeated those concerns in Parliament.
The UK's position, which I support, is clear and longstanding. There should be a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and a fair and realistic settlement for refugees. The UK Government consistently calls – both bilaterally and via the UN – for an immediate end to all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution.
This includes the demolition of Palestinian property – homes, schools and so forth – and Israeli settlements in the OPTs. Indeed, the UK is clear that these actions cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians, call into question Israel's commitment to a viable two-state solution, and, in all but the most exceptional of cases, are contrary to International Law. Settlement expansion is also counterproductive in light of the normalisation agreements reached between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco. I join ministers in London and officials from the UK Embassy in Tel Aviv and at the UN in calling for demolitions and settlement expansion to cease with immediate effect.
The UK Government advises British businesses to bear in mind its view on the illegality of Israeli settlements in the OPTs under international law when considering their investments and activities in the region. Ultimately, it is a decision for an individual or company as to whether to operate in the settlements in the OPTs. The UK Government neither encourages nor supports such activity.
The UK National Contact Point (UK NCP), which operates independently of the Department for International Trade, has not found that JCB violated human rights. In line with the OECD Guidelines, the UK NCP has advised JCB to develop a policy commitment to respect human rights and to carry out human rights due diligence in supply chains. The UK NCP will request an update from JCB on the implementation of its recommendations in late 2022, and stands ready to provide support as necessary in the interim.