[John Bercow in the Chair] — Occupied Palestinian Territories

Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall at 2:51 pm on 5 July 2007.

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Photo of John Battle John Battle Labour, Leeds West 2:51, 5 July 2007

Our Committee's focus was the alleviation and tackling of poverty, but we cannot tackle poverty in the west bank and Gaza without considering the politics and economic realities. The right hon. Gentleman rightly pointed out that although certain groups have used blood-curdling rhetoric and carried out serious attacks of violence and terror in the past, they eventually had to be brought into talks to bring about a peace agreement. I suggest that it might not be simply his view and that of the Committee that in order to tackle poverty in the west bank and Gaza, there will have to be dialogue with all the parties, including Hamas. That might now be the wider view.