Conservative Friends of Israel interview David
Cameron MP
1. Why should Conservatives be friends of Israel?
Conservatives should be friends of Israel because
Conservatives believe in supporting democracy, defending freedom and standing up
against terrorism. Israel is in the front line in the international struggle
against terrorist violence and we should show solidarity with all involved
in that fight. Conservatives also recognise Israel's unique position as a lone
democracy in a region that currently boasts no others. I am a strong admirer of
what Israelis have achieved in the fields of science, the arts, business and
philanthropy, and of the immeasurable contribution of Jewish culture to our own
society.
2. Why should supporters of Israel support the Conservative Party?
I am glad that there are supporters of Israel in
all Britain's major political parties. An understanding of, and sympathy
towards, Israel's position should be natural for most democrats. But there are
special reasons why the Conservative Party is a logical home for friends of
Israel.
Conservatives instinctively know that when any
society is faced with a profound threat that the only answer is to be resolute
in the face of that threat.. Conservatives have shown, both during the Cold War,
and since 9/11, that we have the toughness to hold the course when faced with
global challenges. Conservatives appreciate in their hearts what makes Israel
strong - the durability of the Israeli people's values, the freedoms the nation
has defended under considerable pressure as well as the vigor and creativity of
modern Israeli society.
3. In your view, what is the most viable option for a peaceful resolution to the
Israeli Palestinian conflict?
A long-term resolution of the Israel-Palestinian
conflict depends on the creation of a fully democratic Palestinian state, which
respects its own people's rights, living in harmony alongside an Israeli state
secure in its borders, free from the threat of terrorism and respected by all
its neighbors. The ultimate objective is clear: two states, two democracies,
living side by side, in peace.
I welcome the recognition of the current Israeli
government that steps need to be taken to help create a functioning Palestinian
state, and I welcome Israel's bold decision to withdraw from Gaza and parts of
the West Bank. This creates new opportunities, and new responsibilities for the
Palestinian people. But I am also clear that the Palestinian leadership now
needs to live up to its responsibility to end the corruption, violence,
prejudice and terrorism which has blighted their
people's prospects, and hope that under the leadership of President Abbas the
Palestinian Authority will now do that.
4. Have you been to Israel or have any plans to go?
No - I look forward to visiting.
5. What action does the Government need to take to curtail the rise of
anti-Semitism?
The Government needs to send a clear signal that
it will not tolerate extremism or prejudice of any kind. Anti-semitism is the
oldest hatred and, as the Chief Rabbi has pointed out, it has now mutated to
take new forms. We need to be vigilant about campus anti-semitism and challenge
those critics of Israel who allow their attacks to descend into denunciations
dangerously close to anti-Jewish rhetoric. We also need a much closer watch kept
on those extremists, whether self-styled preachers or political activists, who
spread anti-semitism as part of their campaign of hate.
I have proposed actions to help the Moslem
community police extremist activity in mosques and elsewhere which serves
no-one's interests. Government, individuals and all community leaders have a
shared responsibility to tackle prejudice which, if unchallenged, can lead to
hatred and violence.
6. Across the Arab world, incitement against Jews
and Israel has reached horrific proportions. In the Arab media, Jews are
regularly described as 'bloodsuckers'. In Palestinian schools, children are
taught that Jews are 'descendants of apes and pigs' and evil. What pressure
should you bear on Arab governments and the Palestinian Authority to stop this
pernicious and vicious anti-Semitism?
There should be a clear linkage in British
foreign policy between a nation's respect for human rights and the support we
give it. Countries which oppress their own people, or provide a launch pad for
campaigns of hate against others, should face not just diplomatic consequences
but the loss of commercial and development support.
7. Since the Israeli disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank,
terrorist organisations Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have been given a
new lease of life and are carrying out large numbers of terrorist attacks
against innocent civilians. What action should the British Government take in
conjunction with the international community to curtail activities of terrorist
organisations in the Palestinian territories?
I agree with Michael Howard's view that Britain
should work with the international community to help, if required, to keep the
borders between Israel and Palestinian territories as secure as possible. We
should be ready to help ensure that the Palestinian Authority has
properly-trained personnel able to maintain security in Gaza and to fight
terrorism, not turn a blind eye to it. I also think we need to bring pressure to
bear, with the US and the EU, on the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Syria and
Iran to ensure they provide neither support nor safe haven for terrorist-related
activity.
8. How should Britain deal with Islamic
fundamentalism at home and abroad?
This is a vast issue, which I discussed in some
length over the summer, in a speech I gave on the roots of fundamentalist
violence (available at cameroncampaign.org). In brief, we need to
understand that Islamic fundamentalist violence,
like Nazi-ism in the past, cannot be accommodated through political concessions
or negotiation. We need tough security measures to limit the danger of
fundamentalist terrorism. But we also need a long term political strategy to
strengthen national cohesion at home and extend democracy as well as human
rights abroad. Islamic fundamentalists exploit the marginalisation which exists
with some British communities and flourish in those states abroad which lack
effective political freedom. Both need to be tackled.
9. There is increasing evidence that EU aid to the Palestinian Authority is
being misappropriated either by corrupt Palestinian officials and is possibly
ending up in the hands of terrorist organisations.
"Year after year, the donor countries
gave money to the Palestine Liberation Organisation, and what happened to it?
It was used to pay off Arafat's cronies, and a lot of it ended up in bank
accounts in Zurich and in property. It is a disgrace" Minister for the
Middle East, Dr Kim Howells, 26/10/05
How should Britain ensure that international
development aid, either from Britain or the EU, goes directly to genuinely help
the Palestinian people?
By demanding a clear audit trail for every pound,
euro or dollar spent and denying funding to those individuals or organizations
who cannot account for how aid money is spent or who have clearly diverted it
for the wrong purposes.
10. Conservative Friends of Israel is one of the biggest affiliated groups to
the Conservative Party with over 80% of MPs as members and over 2000 registered
supporters (most of whom are Party members). How do you see CFI's role in
promoting Conservatism and helping the Conservative Party to win the next
election?
I want all the groups within the Conservative
Party to have one common purpose. Working to convince our fellow Britons that we
need a modern compassionate Conservative Government which will create new
opportunities, empower those neglected by Labor, fight for freedom abroad and
defend liberty at home.
David Cameron MP - November 24th 2005
