British credibility is at stake when it comes to chances for Middle East peace

Over the summer, Gaza dominated the headlines. The UN described the level of destruction in the territory as unprecedented since 1967, with tens of thousands of homes damaged or destroyed, and more than 2,000 Palestinians killed, 1 in 4 of whom were children. Since the ceasefire, Palestinians, the UN, aid agencies and Israeli human rights groups have been clear that without lifting the blockade, without a political resolution to Gaza’s isolation, more violence is guaranteed.

The Israeli-imposed restrictions on the Gaza Strip cannot be separated from the moribund state of the peace process more generally, and the continued Israeli expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. Just days after the fighting came to an end in Gaza, the Israeli authorities advanced plans to expropriate a huge tract of land outside Bethlehem; it is the largest such land grab in decades.

Responding to this decision, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond described the seizure as a deplorable step that would do “serious damage to Israel’s standing in the international community”. The FCO-issued statement affirmed the UK government’s position that Israeli settlements are “illegal under international law” and are an obstacle to a negotiated peace.

While welcome, this statement sounded familiar. Go back to June 2013, for example, and the then Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt issued yet another condemnation of Israeli settlement expansion; it was in Har Homa, located between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The UK position is clear, and aligned with international law, but the lack of accountability for persistent Israeli violations leads to impunity for those responsible and makes admirable statements appear hollow.

The responses in Britain to recent events in the Gaza Strip showed that the issues facing Israel and the Palestinians are not about Right vs. Left. At stake are basic issues of morality, the rule of law and the UK’s reputation in the Middle East and internationally. As it stands, the government’s approach constitutes both a serious moral failing and a strategic miscalculation; as such, it is increasingly a target for criticism across the political spectrum.

While the circumstances surrounding Baroness Sayeeda Warsi’s resignation were much debated, it is significant to note that other Conservatives also voiced their disquiet. Margot James MP, for example, wrote to her colleague Philip Hammond, to ask “that the government rethinks policy towards the conflict in Israel and the Palestinian territories”.

Noting the “scale of suffering in Gaza”, James also wrote that she believes the government “should make it clear that it is unacceptable for Israel to just dismiss US proposals for peace without any debate whatsoever”. She speaks for many British citizens in seeing Israeli policies as unacceptable; it’s a majority view attested to by numerous national polls. Offering unconditional support to a state party that flouts international norms as a matter of routine only makes a sustainable solution more unattainable.

The British government has the ability to make a real difference when it comes to a long-term peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. It can stop weapons and weapon parts being exported that contribute to the violence. At home, and in Europe, Britain can show that there are consequences for continued, unchecked occupation; for example, by taking clear steps to prevent the sale of goods made in Israeli settlements. No one should be allowed to profit from what, in the FCO’s own estimation, is a significant obstacle to peace.

Issuing condemnations of Israeli policies but doing little by way of enforcement undermines Britain’s credibility. The Israeli government is made up of ministers and parties who have no interest in a genuine two-state solution shaped by international law. If the British government is serious about ensuring a prosperous future for both Palestinians and Israelis, then it must start by taking substantive measures to uphold international law, and push for an end to Israel’s decades-old military occupation.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.