In early February 2011 Lord Fowler, Kwasi Kwarteng MP and Robin Walker MP joined CMEC Director Leo Docherty on a delegation to Israel and the occupied West Bank.
In addition to meeting with British diplomats and members of the Quartet Representative’s Office, delegates met with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon and other members of the Knesset. The delegation toured East Jerusalem with the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) and visited the wall around Bethlehem with the Israeli Ministry of the Interior. In Hebron, delegates received a briefing from Yehuda Shaul of “Breaking the Silence” and also met with the Settler’s spokesman David Wilder.
A particular highlight was a visit to Rawabi New City project near Ramallah, an $800 m development project which on completion should provide homes for 25,000 Palestinians.
On returning Lord Fowler spoke about the delegation in speech in the House of Lords. You can find his speech here:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/110211-0001.htm#11021129000297
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