Written question asked by Bob Blackman (Conservative) on Monday, 11 September 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 13 September 2023. It was answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 September 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Mahmoud Abbas

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of comments made by the President of the Palestinian National Authority on the Holocaust on 24 August 2023 with the UK's memorandum of understanding with the Palestinian Authority.

Answer: As the FCDO stated publicly on 8 September, the UK condemns the recent antisemitic remarks made by President Abbas. The UK stands firmly against all attempts to distort the Holocaust. Such statements do not advance efforts towards reconciliation. Officials at the British Consulate General in Jerusalem have raised this matter with the Palestinian Authority and the Foreign Secretary intends to do the same during his visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories. President Abbas' comments are completely unacceptable and can only serve to exacerbate tensions and undermine efforts to achieve the negotiated two-state solution.

Secondary information