Palestine

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — International Development – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 22 January 2003.

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Photo of Clare Short Clare Short Secretary of State, Department for International Development 11:30, 22 January 2003

I do not agree that the situation is like a natural disaster; it is worse because it is caused by human agency and is continuing. The destruction of infrastructure because of military action is not the only problem. The closures mean that the economy is being squeezed to death. People cannot get out of their homes to work and are getting ever poorer as the weeks go by. It is a distressing and troubling situation. I have not had discussions with my European counterparts—I do not know whether the hon. Lady knows that the European Development Council has been abolished—but discussions are taking place across Europe on whether Israel is complying with the terms of the agreement.