It looks like we are back to the days when Tony Blair backed Bush unquestioningly, with both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer now in danger of repeating the same mistake. As explained by our Foreign Affairs spokesperson Liberal Democrats believe that the UK, and the international community, should do more to help find a peaceful solution that allows both Israelis and Palestinians to live without fear, as outlined in the Oslo Accords. We cannot allow a return to the status quo that saw religious nationalists on both sides trying to derail the peace process. The international community is belatedly trying to sideline Hamas’ control of Gaza, something they should probably have tried to do earlier. (The Guardian article below expands on this failure.)

In our last manifesto, the Liberal Democrat position was

• Officially recognise the independent state of Palestine, condemn violence on all sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and support Israel’s right to security. We remain committed to a negotiated peace settlement, which includes a two-state solution.

Our community activist for Oldbury, Wikas Khan, believes we need security for both countries and in the Palestinians right to have there own government as they want to be independent, as promised in the Oslo Accord.

Useful links

Huffington Post: Layla Moran MP: UK Must Take Leading Role In Trying To Find Peace Between Israel And Palestine

The Guardian: The danger of leaving things be: how the world ‘failed miserably’ in the Middle East

For those wishing to help relieve the suffering, the British Red Cross has launched an appeal: Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory Appeal

You can read the Liberal Democrat policy for working towards a lasting peace in Israel and Palestine, passed at our Autumn conference in 2021, here.

Towards a Lasting Peace in Israel and Palestine