North Africa and the Near and Middle East

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 5:47 pm on 28 November 2011.

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Photo of Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn Labour, Islington North 5:47, 28 November 2011

I compliment my hon. Friend on the huge amount of work that he has done for many years on the issues facing the Palestinian people. Does he agree that there is an element of double standards here? Israel, the Quartet, the UN and the west in general all have discussions with Hamas and its representatives at times and negotiate with it, hence the release of Corporal Shalit in exchange for a large number of Palestinian prisoners. Is it not time to move on so that there are proper talks and proper recognition instead of the current rather unfortunate stand-off, which has lasted too long?