Middle East: Armed Conflict
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Written answers and statements, 22 October 2009
Linda Riordan (Halifax, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to seek endorsement by the United Nations Security Council of the recommendations for action contained in the report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza conflict.
Ivan Lewis (Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Bury South, Labour)
As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said on
"did not do enough to recognise Israel's right to self-defence but,... did raise serious issues that democratic governments should address through ... [a] full and independent inquiry".
Given our concerns about the report, we will not be seeking its endorsement by the UN Security Council. But we will continue with our international partners to condemn Hamas' use of terrorism and press Israel to conduct a proper independent inquiry.