I greatly regret the action taken against Israel by Hamas and, like so many others, I mourn the loss of life which those attacks, together with Israel’s inevitable response, have caused. I support our government in its publicly announced intention and action to stand by Israel.
I visited Israel in April 2022 and saw how small a country it is. And I saw, from a distance, the security fence which, along with Egypt’s border, keeps over 2 million people in a confined, separate space, in less than ideal economic and social conditions. Given that around 20% of Israel’s population is of Arab background or descent, a solution must be possible. Both sides should lay down their arms and work towards a peaceful two state solution.