Tuesday, 17 June 2025

Middle East conflict

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (14:43): We are all watching the Middle East with great care and concern at the moment. We know that Iran is a state that has been seeking nuclear weapons. We know that Israel has been for many years, for many decades, now surrounded by sworn enemies, and Iran has been the most prominent amongst those. Iran has sponsored effectively state terrorism through Hezbollah, the Hamas group and more recently the Houthis further south. The truth is that I think many in this chamber are very concerned for obviously the people in Iran but the people in Israel too who are subject to what is going on at the moment. I do not believe Israel had much choice. I believe they had to take the actions they have taken, and I wish them well in those actions, in ensuring that there is no nuclear capacity left in Iran. I think there is still some way to go in that. Mr Netanyahu, while some may not appreciate him, I think will be seen in retrospect as somebody who has been prepared to stand up for Israel’s future and to guarantee peace and security. I stand with Israel, I know that they have been surrounded by enemies, and I believe they had to strike out and strike back and to ensure that nuclear capacity was not able to be achieved by Iran.