Bishop of Southwark asks about recent statements regarding the Palestinian village of Hawara by Israeli finance minister

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 16th March 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding the statement by Israel’s Minister of Finance, Mr Bezalel Smotrich, on 1 March, that the Palestinian village of Hawara “should be wiped out”.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): As I set out in my tweet on 26 February, the scenes of abhorrent violence in Huwara were shocking. The UK also stresses the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population. Rhetoric about “wiping out” places is harmful and irresponsible. The British Embassy in Tel Aviv has raised these comments with the Government of Israel at senior levels. We condemn Finance Minister Smotrich’s incitement to violence. Such rhetoric serves no purpose other than to stoke tensions further.

Hansard

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