Question
The Israeli human rights organisation Yesh Din has found that between 2005 and 2023 more than 93% of investigations into settler violence in the west bank were closed without indictment, with just 3% resulting in convictions. With the olive harvest underway, Palestinian farmers continue to face threats from settler violence. Will the Minister update the House on what steps the Government are taking to protect Palestinian farmers and ensure that those responsible for violence are held to account?
Answer
My hon. Friend asks an important question. The UK has stepped in to support Palestinian farmers who lost their work permits in green line Israel, but her broader point is the most important one. I am very conscious that today is election day in Israel and that these are matters for the Israeli people. Whichever Government—it is their choice—are elected today, I hope that we can work with them to counter the settler terrorism that we see, because it is in nobody’s interests, not least in the interests of the security of Israel.12% vibes
Verdict: RED (15/100)
This reply does not clearly answer the question. On protecting West Bank farmers, including during the olive harvest, it instead describes support for Palestinian farmers who lost work permits inside Israel, which is a different issue. On holding settler violence to account, it mentions settler terrorism and a hope to work with the incoming Israeli government, but gives no concrete steps such as sanctions or prosecutions. The answer is mostly vague, so the person who asked would likely need to submit a follow-up for specifics.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What the Government is doing to protect Palestinian farmers in the West Bank, including during the olive harvest. | Partially Addressed | Hedged MISREADS QUESTION | The reply describes UK support for Palestinian farmers who lost work permits in green line Israel, which is a different issue from protecting West Bank farmers, including during the olive harvest, so the item's actual subject is not answered. |
| What the Government is doing to ensure that those responsible for settler violence in the West Bank are held to account. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply only mentions settler terrorism and a hope to work with the incoming Israeli government, with no concrete action on holding perpetrators to account (such as sanctions, prosecutions, or enforcement), so the accountability question is only touched on vaguely. |