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15
Oct
A local MP has called for the UK to continue its supply of weapons to Israel.
Conservative Sir Alec Shelbrooke, who was elected to represent Wetherby and Easingwold in July, asked in the House of Commons yesterday whether supplies to the Israeli military will continue in light of a recent attack by Hezbollah – a UK-proscribed terror organisation based in Lebanon and backed by Iran.
Hezbollah has fought against Israeli troops in support of Hamas as part of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Four Israeli soldiers were killed and another 58 injured following a drone attack by Hezbollah on Sunday (October 13) in retaliation to Israel's attacks in southern Lebanon and Beirut three days earlier.
In a session on defence in the Commons yesterday, Sir Alec yesterday asked for assurance on maintaining the supply of defence equipment to Israel. He said:
In light of the latest Hezbollah attack on Israel, will the Secretary of State assure the House that we will continue to supply defensive equipment to Israel to help it defend itself against Iranian proxies?
Defence Secretary John Healey replied:
We have an unshakeable commitment to the right of Israel to defend itself and we have demonstrated in the past a willingness to stand with Israel, particularly when it has been under direct attack from Iran.
Unlike many MPs, Sir Alec has been vocal about his stance on the conflict on his social media platforms.
After Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the UK would halt some arms sales to Israel on September 3, Sir Alec labelled the move “appalling”.
He added:
To announce this on the day Israel buried a son murdered by Hamas is spiteful. This ties the hands of an ally under attack from Iranian proxies - Hamas and Hezbollah. An axis of evil Labour’s ignoring to suit internal party division.
The Stray Ferret asked Sir Alec if he considered himself pro-Israel, to which he said:
The conflict is between the state of Israel and Hamas, which is a registered terrorist organisation. To ask if I am pro-Israel suggests that there are people in the UK who are pro-Hamas, and if that is the case those people should be prosecuted for supporting a registered terrorist organisation.
I strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself following the abhorrent attacks on October 7 and a regular barrage of rockets. Do not forget that Hamas’s goal is to remove all Jews from the Middle East, whereas Israel’s goal is the defence of its citizens.
We also asked the MP whether he supports a two-state solution. Sir Alec added:
Yes, a two-state solution must remain the target for peace.
Granted, we are now further from that than we were before October 7, but it’s important that it remains the target. We can’t have peace in the Middle East whilst the terrorists of Hamas are in situ and whilst they still hold Israeli hostages.
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