West Bank Reflections

Andrew George MP 13th – 18th April 2025

Purpose

• I’ve not visited the region before.
• As I’ve become increasingly drawn into debate about the situation there, I feel I needed to examine the situation at closer quarters.
• We knew the score (for ourselves) – primary aim was to avoid deportation and of course to come back alive!
• (It probably didn’t help that my words had been widely and prominently reported in Israeli media the week prior to my arrival – eg Jerusalem Post British MP Andrew George claims Gaza residents are hostages – The Jerusalem Post
• Our visit is based on a shared belief/perspective that seeking a peaceful resolution to the crises, conflict and clear discrimination is in the interests of both Israelis and Palestinians, and that sustainable, peaceful coexistence is not just desirable, but possible, despite the current circumstances.
• Not suggesting that backbench British MPs have exceptional ability or can produce blinding flashes of inspired insight and advice strangely overlooked for decades by the thousands of international states people, academic experts and campaigners with finer minds than ME (can only speak for myself!) who have studied the appalling situation in more depth than we had time to.

Background

Of all international crises, my constituents consistently view the distressing situation in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel as the epicentre of what is perceived a wider world conflict; and are anxious the UK government constructively supports peace initiatives, the return of remaining hostages, ending the conflict, the killing, and are desperate to believe there’s a route to deliver a lasting peace.

Personal and family background

Tragedy extends to our back door. Murder of Jim Henderson from west Cornwall working with the World Central Kitchen just over a year ago – one of seven members of the charity killed. An investigation has been promised.

We were invited to spend the last week visiting the West Bank and Israel, hosted by a non-governmental organisation promoting peace in the Middle East (International Centre of Justice for Palestinians); along with Shockat Adam MP (Independent Alliance – Leicester S).

A week earlier two fellow MPs (Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed) were deported before entering Israel. We’d half-anticipated the same. However, we’d alerted the Foreign Office, in the hope it would ensure the Israeli government had time to reflect on our intended arrival.

Although I was initially sent back at Tel Aviv Border Control and detained, I contacted the Consulate and was permitted entry after a short wait, of less than one hour.

We met many very pleasant Israeli and Palestinian people, medics, Knesset Members, lawyers, human rights campaigners, refugees, as well as many checkpoint soldiers, police, security guards, and ‘settlers’.

I recognise we are but merely the latest in a substantial stream of thousands of politicians, academics, campaigners, diplomats, think-tanks etc which have reviewed the unacceptable and unsustainable situation in this region. Seeking a peaceful resolution after decades of conflict – and perhaps the very worst of all conflicts presently in Gaza – must be for the benefit of both Israelis and Palestinians. Achieving this will clearly require 1. a major political change from that presently pursued, including the ending/rejection of mutually exclusive belief in divine rights or holy mission and 2. herculean diplomatic effort.

Segregation, discrimination

I was struck by how segregated society is, especially in the West Bank. I note official bodies like the International Court of Justice have chosen to use the term “apartheid” [*] to describe the state of affairs across the country. I don’t myself feel qualified to make such a formal judgement.

* The ICJ has ruled that Israel’s policy and practices in the West Bank and East Jerusalem (including the system of separation, distinct road networks, distinct legal systems and restrictions on Palestinians alone, and not upon settlers) constitute racial segregation and apartheid under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Article 3)

Indeed, in the toxic environment in which such terms are traded and the highly-charged linguistic battleground, I’m less sure which nouns/adjectives best describe the circumstances we observed. I can only factually describe what I saw:

There appeared to be broadly two communities of people.

Group A live in relative prosperity, with the facilities of a modern, well-heeled western society. Whether by law or convention, they appear to enjoy better health services, schools and public services, travel on better buses and trains, and have full democratic rights to vote for their government.

However, those in Group B have severely limited opportunities, significant restrictions on their rights and freedoms and have no right to vote for the government which determines most of their rights and manages quality of life.

Language and terminology

The conflict is also hampered by control/co-option of the terminology used. This is not mere semantics.

A stark example is the term “settlers” to describe those Israelis who use force and intimidation to (illegally) take over valuable land, buildings and real estate from Palestinians and in Palestinian territories, often it seems with state financial/tax inducements, and with the protection and assistance of state institutions (police and IDF). “Settler” implies, according to most dictionaries, a passive (even benign) act of arrival in a new place, which may have been unoccupied or under-occupied by others. Considering the acts of Israelis in the West Bank “intruders” or “evictors” would be a more accurate terms to describe the disruptive actions and coercive behaviour which result in the advance of these “settlements”.

We also witnessed one exchange between two “settlers” in southern West Bank where they rudely and threateningly offered to buy a property from a local Palestinian we were being hosted by, and firmly informed the resident words to the effect: “If you don’t sell to us now, we’ll take it anyway very soon. It’s up to you.”

Further reflection, when meeting Palestinians who’d been evicted just a week before from their refugee camp in Tulkarm in the north of the West Bank, a woman smiled and said she remains optimistic they will one day

soon return to their refugee camp, and then, in due course to Haifa from where they were forced to move back in 1948!

Seeking a solution…

Seeking a peaceful resolution after decades of conflict can only work if it benefits both Israelis and Palestinians. Achieving this will require a major political change and herculean diplomatic effort.

I don’t believe we were selectively led. We spoke to a good range of campaigners, human rights activists, politicians, etc.

On balance they were less persuaded by the parroting of the proposed “Two State Solution”. Many felt that “boat had sailed – it’s too late” – arguing the concept is no longer helpful, plausible, nor achievable. I’ve advocated this myself, but having now visited the region, I can see why some feel it’s a waste of political energy, nor the best focus for the energies of those who are determined to secure long-term peace. It creates a veneer of purposefulness but seems a too far-off and unachievable prospect and a platitudinous waste of words in the ears of Palestinians and a red rag to many Israelis.

I floated an alternative concept – to suggest a “Two Stage Solution”. There will be no resolution to the conflict until the segregated and discriminatory state is dismantled and for full democracy to be established for all. It would be based on:

1. Votes for all (including all Palestinians) and a general election;
2. A truth and reconciliation process.

To support this the UK government must:

• Promote equality, equal rights and votes for all.
• Encourage Israel to adopt a path of peace, and to adopt sanctions, especially ban trade with illegal ‘settlements’ until it does.
• Agree that both Palestinians and Israelis have equal entitlement to self-determination (statehood) – just short of asking the UK government to recognise the state of Palestine.
• Stop all arms licenses
• Sanction those who stoke the conflict, Hamas and extremist ministers like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.