Following a four-day visit on a Caabu-LFPME delegation to the West Bank, British
MPs questioned the continuing viability of a two-state solution.
The Shadow Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham MP, said that it was "Hard
not to conclude that 'two-state solution' is dying before our eyes, if not dead
already."
Seema Malhotra MP echoed his comment: "Looking at the expanding settlements,
checkpoints and separation wall, combined with the daily grind of occupation for
ordinary families, it was hard not to conclude that only a small window of time
remains for the chance for a two-state solution. The issue is urgent and the
international community must act."
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The delegation visited much of the West Bank including Jerusalem, Ramallah,
Hebron, Nablus and Qalqilya. This included visiting communities that had been
cut off and surrounded by the wall near Qalqilya and Al Walajeh. They had
meetings with UN officials, Palestinian and international NGOs, Israeli human
rights organisations and also with the Palestinian Prime Minister, Dr Salam
Fayyad.
Caabu Director, Chris Doyle who led the delegation, said "At a time when the
Palestinian President is desperately trying to get support from key United
Nations members for Palestinian statehood, the reality on the ground makes it
harder and harder to see how this can come about. The international community
has sat and watched as their preferred solution to this conflict has been eaten
away by a relentless settlement programme."