Latest news with #CouncilforArab-BritishUnderstanding
Middle East Eye
24-04-2025
- Business
- Middle East Eye
UK lifts sanctions on Syrian ministries and intelligence agencies
The UK has lifted sanctions on Syria's defence and interior ministries and a range of its intelligence agencies in a major move towards normalising ties with the country's new government. On Thursday morning, the UK Treasury published a notice revealing it has lifted asset freezes on Syria's General Intelligence Directorate, Air Force Intelligence Agency and Political Security Directorate, as well as its defence and interior ministries. This is despite the Syrian government being led by figures that were part of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the armed group that toppled Bashar al-Assad's government and remains a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, as well as in the US. Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's new president, has urged Britain and other countries to lift all the sanctions that had been imposed on the country under Assad. 'The sanctions were implemented as a response to crimes committed by the previous regime against the people,' he told the New York Times in an interview published on Wednesday. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters In March, the UK lifted sanctions on 24 Syrian entities, including state-owned oil companies and the state airline, becoming the first country to unfreeze all assets of the Central Bank of Syria. Britain's move marks a significant policy shift but is unlikely to have a major material impact without the United States following suit. 'Without the US making serious changes it may not amount to a massive change' - Chris Doyle, Council for Arab-British Understanding Chris Doyle, chair of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, told Middle East Eye: "It is welcome to see sanctions being eased, but without the US making serious changes it may not amount to a massive change. The key will be when the US lifts banking sanctions and money transfers to Syria can be made." Earlier this year the US waived a ban on transactions with the Syrian government, facilitating humanitarian aid. But it has kept sanctions in place, making them contingent on a series of reforms. On 18 March, a US official handed Syria's foreign minister eight demands during a conference in Brussels. The US reportedly demanded that Syria's interim administration publicly ban all Palestinian armed and political activities and deport members of Palestinian armed groups to "ease Israeli concerns". Other demands included allowing US counterterrorism operations inside Syria, designating Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation and forming a unified Syrian army with no foreign fighters in key command roles. PIJ officials arrested The Syrian government appears to be taking steps to appease US demands. Authorities arrested two senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leaders last week. Syria arrests senior PIJ officials after US sets demands for sanctions relief Read More » PIJ's armed wing, the al-Quds Brigades, said on Tuesday that the arrests occurred 'without any explanation' and in 'a manner we would not have hoped to see from our brothers, whose land has always been a haven for loyal and free people'. PIJ has long held a presence in Syria. The group has been the target of Israeli air strikes in recent months, including a 14 November attack on the suburbs of Damascus that killed 15 people, including several PIJ members. Since the fall of Assad, the Israeli army has carried out regular air raids and ground incursions into Syria, sometimes wounding and killing residents in the south. Israeli officials have called for a demilitarisation of southern Syria and claimed the new authorities are a threat to the Druze minority. But many Syrians across the country, including Druze in the south, have firmly rejected Israel's statements and military actions. In early March, a wave of attacks against the country's Alawite minority saw hundreds killed by armed militias, in what appeared to be revenge killings against people accused of being loyal to Assad.
Arab News
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Access denied: how Israel is avoiding scrutiny of its actions
Much furor erupted last week when Israel denied entry and deported for the first time ever two British MPs. A barrage of nonsense was spewed about a delegation we at the Council for Arab-British Understanding helped organize. It was a delegation to the West Bank, not Israel. It was never about Israel, but about assessing humanitarian projects and the challenges facing Palestinian communities under occupation. The MPs were not there to spread hate against Israel. Yet the real story is not about these two Labour MPs, both of whom received welcome from the British government and parliamentary backing. It is that they and others are not allowed to witness the reality of life in the occupied Palestinian territory. Israeli denials of access are becoming more frequent. In February, two European members of the European Parliament were also refused entry and sent packing. Within the West Bank, leading international politicians have had their access curtailed by Israel. James Cleverly, when British foreign secretary, and his Irish and Norwegian counterparts were informed by Israeli authorities that they could not visit the village of Ein Samiya in the West Bank in September 2023. The village had been emptied of its Palestinian inhabitants. Even a development minister from Germany, one of Israel's closest allies and collaborators, was denied access into Gaza back in 2010. Gaza has been restricted for years. British politicians have not been allowed into the enclave via the Erez checkpoint since 2009. Even then, our delegation had to wait to be allowed in. One MP has made it through since, but she went as a breast cancer surgeon. UN agencies have all been restricted Chris Doyle However, all categories of those who might bear witness to Israeli activities have faced more arduous restrictions. Human rights groups are a prime target. Since Oct. 7, 2023, the International Committee of the Red Cross has not been allowed to visit Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli jails. The exception was when overseeing Palestinian detainee release during the period of the recent deal. In 2019, Israel expelled Omar Shakir, the Israel and Palestine director of Human Rights Watch. International journalists, except some embeds, have not been allowed into Gaza since October 2023. Even during the recent pause in military operations, they were still not allowed access — a point made powerfully by the BBC's international editor Jeremy Bowen. Their Palestinian colleagues have clearly been targeted to prevent the story from being broadcast to the outside world. And who can forget the murder of the Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in Jenin in 2022? Diplomats as well have been denied access. None can get into Gaza. I have witnessed a local Israeli commander produce an order declaring a village in the south Hebron hills a closed military zone as a large European diplomatic delegation arrived to visit the site, which had been under attack from Israeli settlers. The date of the order was not even accurate. The diplomats had to leave. UN agencies have all been restricted. International staff have increasingly found it harder to get visas, particularly since 2018. The Knesset has banned the UN refugee agency UNRWA from operations in all the areas under Israeli control. This included ordering six UNRWA schools closed in occupied Jerusalem. Israel will not accept any entry of UN commissions of inquiry or, since 2008, any of the UN special rapporteurs on occupied Palestinian territories. Gaza is close to being totally cut off Chris Doyle Humanitarian agencies have likewise seen intensifying restrictions. Since 2023, international workers have been able to apply only for short-term visas. They now face a new set of draconian restrictions, not least over a new Israeli NGO registration system. The draft legislation will grant Israeli authorities extensive powers to ban and restrict registrations of NGOs and to deny staff entry. All existing NGOs will have to reapply for permits. This creates an environment of anxiety about whether life-saving projects will be able to continue. Healthcare workers have also been a target. According to the UN, over 400 aid workers, including 280 UN personnel, have been killed in Gaza in the past 18 months. Yet getting doctors and medical professionals in has been more difficult, too. Gaza is close to being completely and totally cut off. Internet access has been severed on occasions by Israel, but remains highly reduced. However, the story, the images, and the video footage still gets out. Even if the full scale of the horror is not comprehensively documented, the evidence of crimes against humanity and genocide stacks up every day. In the West Bank, the stage is set for a similar scenario. All the tools are there to bring it about, not least dozens of new checkpoints. Israel controls all entry and access. International actors have to push back on this. Israel would like to further its process of ethnic cleansing and genocide away from prying eyes. The antidote is to open all the Palestinian territories for proper scrutiny of what is happening.
Middle East Eye
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Opinion: Deportation of British MPs aims to hide Israeli crimes
For the first time in history, the Israeli government has deported two elected British members of parliament. While it has previously denied entry to politicians from other countries, including two members of the European Parliament in February, it had never before done so in the case of Britain, which is theoretically an ally of Israel. The Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu) has organised and escorted dozens of British parliamentary delegations to the Middle East in recent decades, especially to the occupied Palestinian territories. It came as a shock to learn of the deportations. The delegation, organised jointly with Medical Aid for Palestinians, included two British Labour members of parliament, Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang. Elected just last year, neither had previously visited Israel or the occupied Palestinian territories. Their weekend ordeal of detention, interrogation and deportation was, of course, nothing in comparison to what Palestinians in the occupied territories endure on a regular basis. Israeli forces patrol the occupied West Bank in September 2021 (Jalaa Marey/AFP)
The Independent
07-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Falconer: All MPs should be worried by blocking of two MPs from entering Israel
A Foreign Office minister has said all MPs should 'be worried' by the decision to block two Labour MPs from entering Israel. Hamish Falconer said both Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, who made the trip with charity partners as part of an MPs' delegation, had his 'support and solidarity'. Ms Mohamed told the Commons they had been denied entry 'based on our legitimate political opinions, which are firmly aligned with international law'. In a statement, Mr Falconer said the MPs 'were going to see for themselves what is taking place in the occupied territories, and to meet those directly affected by the shocking rise in settler violence'. He added: 'Such visits are commonplace for MPs from across this House and from all parties, indeed, I'm told that more than 161 Members of Parliament have conducted such visits. 'They enrich the knowledge and experience of us as legislators and representatives. They create connections with countries, political counterparts, and civil society. 'Indeed, I note that both organisations – Medical Aid for Palestinians and the Council for Arab-British Understanding – have supported visits from all the main political parties, including the benches opposite. All members should therefore be worried by what this decision means and the precedent it sets. 'So our message to the Israeli government is not just that this is wrong, it is that it is counterproductive. We have warned that the actions like this only damage the image of the Israeli government in eyes of honourable members across the House.' The Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu) and Medical Aid for Palestinians (Map) said they had organised the delegation that included the two MPs. The organisations said they had been organising such trips for 'over a decade' and the group had 'informed the UK consul general in Jerusalem of their visit'. Ms Mohamed, MP for Sheffield Central, said it had been 'a challenging few days', adding: 'We were denied entry based on our legitimate political opinions, which are firmly aligned with international law. 'We are not the only ones speaking about the atrocities. We are not the only ones calling for change. We are not the only ones saying that the current actions of the Israeli government must change. Indeed, many Israeli people and charities themselves in Israel are also calling for change. 'There is no direct route into the West Bank. We have to go through Israel. This act was not just a diplomatic affront. This wasn't about security. It was about control and censorship.' She added: 'No state, however powerful, should be beyond criticism. I desperately want to see a two-state solution, and I hope the minister will be able to work with his counterparts in Israel to prevent this happening again, so that we can continue to act in good faith to shed light on what is happening.' Mr Falconer replied: 'On the position of the Israeli government, they do have the right to decide who enters Israel, as indeed do we. 'On this occasion, the two Members of Parliament were given clearance to enter and so it was known to the Israeli government before they arrived at the airport that they would be travelling. So it was with some surprise that I received the call on Saturday evening.' Ms Yang said she joined the delegation on behalf of her constituents who had shared their 'longing for peace' in Gaza and the West Bank. The Earley and Woodley MP added: 'Before going to the West Bank, I understood the risks of travelling to a region where violence is all too common. I did not, however, anticipate the risks of detention and deportation from a British ally.' She continued: 'So far in this Parliament, the conflict in Gaza has been referenced over a thousand times by British MPs, and I have made five of those references in this chamber. If my experience has proved anything, it is that what we say in this chamber matters, and I will encourage other MPs to continue speaking on this issue. 'People around the world are listening to us, our voice is powerful, and we must continue to use it without fear or favour.' Shadow Foreign Office minister Wendy Morton was met with shouts of 'shame' from the Labour benches, as she claimed they were travelling to Israel 'at their own risk'. She added: 'As MPs we do not have diplomatic immunity. So what would the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) do, and this is really important, what would the FCDO do if MPs are allowed entry and then arrested?' Mr Falconer replied: 'I had hoped that (Ms Morton) might come to the despatch box in order to withdraw the comments of the leader of the Opposition.'
Fox News
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Israel denies entry to two British lawmakers accused of planning to 'spread anti-Israel hatred'
Israel has denied entry to two British lawmakers who were accused of planning to "spread anti-Israel hatred." The two Labour Members of Parliament, Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, were briefly detained over the weekend and denied entry to Israel because they allegedly had plans to "document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred," Israel's immigration agency told Sky News. Israeli officials told the outlet that Yang and Mohamed were with two assistants on the trip, who said they were going to Israel "as part of an official parliamentary delegation." The officials said that immigration agents did not find "evidence to support the claim... they were traveling as part of an official delegation." "No politicians or government officials were aware they were coming," the Israeli officials added. The Council for Arab-British Understanding claimed that the lawmakers were part of a delegation organized by the group as well as Medical Aid for Palestinians. Mohamed and Yang posted in a statement to X they were "astounded" at the decision by Israeli authorities. A joint statement from @YuanfenYang and me on the Israeli authorities' refusal to admit us entry to the occupied West Bank: "It is vital that parliamentarians are able to witness, firsthand, the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory," they wrote. "We are two, out of scores of MPs, who have spoken out in Parliament in recent months on the Israel-Palestine conflict and the importance of complying with International Humanitarian Law. Parliamentarians should feel free to speak truthfully in the House of Commons, without fear of being targeted." During an April 2 speech, Mohamed accused Israel of ethnic cleansing. "On 30 March, the first day of Eid, Israeli attacks on Gaza killed dozens of Palestinians, adding to the death toll since Israel breached the ceasefire agreement. Israel is now in the process of enacting the largest forced displacement, ordering hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Rafah. How will this end? Israel cannot and will not stop. Is the goal ethnic cleansing? We are witnessing that. Is the goal the complete destruction of Gaza? We are now witnessing that," Mohamed said. In August 2019, Israeli officials blocked U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., from entering the country following pressure from President Donald Trump. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement at the time that Talib and Omar's itinerary "revealed that they planned a visit whose sole objective is to strengthen the boycott against us and deny Israel's legitimacy."
