PM rejects Durkanclaim of bias inMiddle East policy

Mr Durkan put the proposition to the Prime Minister David Cameron during a debate on security and the Middle East on Monday.

The MP stated: “The Prime Minister has stressed the need to counter the extremist narrative.”

He then asked: “Clearly, he recognises that there are those who are sowing alienation, radicalisation, extremism and subversion, but does he also recognise the danger of helping to fertilise what they are trying to propagate?”

Mr Durkan went on to add: “I am talking about when Governments appear to adopt double standards and inconsistency in relation to clear violations of international law, not least in respect of Gaza, and then in domestic law appear to create a twilight zone around the very basic concept of citizenship.”

But Mr Cameron responded by stating: “I do not accept that we are operating any sort of double standards.

“I have set out the situation very clearly with respect to Israel and Gaza, and also the problems that we face with Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

“It will be for hon. Members to decide whether or not they want to support that.”

Mr Cameron earlier told Members that the Government would support Israel’s right to defend itself but condemned illegal settlements.

“We will continue to support Israel and Israel’s right to defend itself, but that does not mean we support every decision the Israeli Government take,” said Mr Cameron.

“Most recently, the appropriation of nearly 1,000 acres of land in the west bank near Bethlehem is utterly deplorable,” he said.