Tensions have escalated between the Labour Party and the Conservative Party in the UK following the expulsion of two Labour MPs, Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, from Israel. The MPs were part of a delegation visiting humanitarian aid projects in the West Bank, organised by the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu) and Medical Aid for Palestinians (Map), both of which have facilitated similar trips for over a decade without incident. This marks the first time that Israel has denied entry to British MPs.
The controversy arose when Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch defended Israel's decision to deport the MPs. In an appearance on Sky News's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, she remarked that "every country should be able to control its borders," adding that she believed the MPs were attempting to engage in activities they were not permitted to do. Badenoch stated, "I think that every country should be able to control its borders, and that’s what Israel is doing, as far as I understand." These comments have drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, including members of her own party.
Labour's Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, publicly condemned the decision to deny entry, asserting that it is "disgraceful" for a UK leader to support another country's expulsion of British MPs. He took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his disapproval, questioning whether Badenoch would extend similar support to Conservative MPs banned from entering China. Lammy affirmed that the government would continue to advocate for the rights of UK parliamentarians, irrespective of party affiliation.
Emily Thornberry, Labour MP and chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee, expressed her disbelief at Badenoch’s stance, characterising it as “nonsense” and urging her to show solidarity with fellow parliamentarians. Thornberry expressed her concerns during an interview with Sky News, stating, “You have to stand up for what’s right, Kemi Badenoch, and you should stand in solidarity with other parliamentarians who were just going to Israel and the West Bank to find out what was going on.”
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey also weighed in, accusing Badenoch of exhibiting “unbelievably poor judgment” in her comments related to the incident. In response to Lammy's criticisms, Badenoch appeared to differentiate between Israel, which she termed an ally and a democracy, and China, indicating that Lammy should be able to discern between the two.
In a more conciliatory tone, Richard Fuller, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, suggested that parliamentarians on official trips should generally be welcomed in host countries. Fuller noted that such visits are intended to enable MPs to better understand the situation on the ground and report back to Parliament.
The backdrop to this incident includes ongoing conflict in the region, with airstrikes on the West Bank resulting in the deaths of 261 Palestinians and displacing approximately 40,000 individuals, according to figures from the Palestinian-Israeli rights group B’tselem. This violence has increased international scrutiny of Israel's actions following the broader conflict initiated after an assault on Gaza on 7 October 2023.
This incident highlights the deepening divide within British politics regarding foreign policy and the responses to international humanitarian crises, particularly in relation to Israel and Palestine. The Labour and Conservative parties remain firmly entrenched in their respective positions, with significant political implications as both parties prepare for future electoral battles.
Source: Noah Wire Services