UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) made a written submission to the UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, which has an ongoing inquiry into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. UKLFI’s submission has now been published.

UKLFI’s submission points out that allegations against Israel based on incomplete or erroneous information and their consequences – such as arrest warrants, arms bans, boycotts and divestment – undermine Israel’s confidence and trust in the international community and international institutions.

In particular, UKLFI warns that Israel is likely to resist any further territorial concessions if it is not confident that the world will allow it to defend itself against attacks from the territories it leaves.

At the same time, misinformation and vilification of Israel encourage many Palestinians to believe that violence and atrocities are a legitimate and effective way of achieving political gains.

UKLFI’s submission goes on to discuss several areas where inaccurate and partial information relating to Israel has been relied on by international bodies, referring to detailed analyses carried out by UKLFI or UKLFI Charitable Trust:

• the Palestinian casualty figures produced by Hamas-run entities,
• the reports by the IPC and FEWS NET of famine and starvation in the Gaza Strip,
• the grounds given by the ICC Prosecutor for warrants for the arrest of Israeli leaders,
• misrepresentations of the ICJ’s provisional measures orders in the case brought by South Africa against Israel alleging genocide,
• information relied on in the ICJ’s advisory opinions, and
• the whitewashing of UNRWA’s links to Hamas.

The submission concludes that a fair and honest treatment of Israel and its conduct is crucial to ensure that all parties are held accountable for their actions, creating a foundation for mutual understanding, reconciliation and sustainable peace. It urges the UK Government to take the following steps:

• Vigorously challenging and voting against resolutions and other measures in the UN and international fora that do not treat Israel honestly and fairly, and persuading other countries to do the same;
• Intervening in and supporting Israel against false and distorted allegations in international court proceedings, and persuading other countries to do the same;
• Raising concerns about the misconduct of the ICC Prosecutor and oversight of his work in the Assembly of State Parties;
• Supporting, and persuading other countries to support, the closure of UNRWA and the assumption by other organisations of such of its activities as are legitimate and desirable;
• Cancelling the ban on arms exports to Israel and supporting Israel in its efforts to defend itself against threats to its existence, and persuading other countries to do likewise;
• Prohibiting racist boycotts and discrimination against Israel, Israelis and Jews, extending the scope and removing restrictions on enforcement of the UK Equality Act, and encouraging other countries to prohibit racism against Israel, Israelis and Jews around the world;
• Encouraging and assisting further development of the Abraham Accords, which directly contribute to peace and stability in the region, by deepening the ties between the parties to existing agreements and adding agreements between further Arab States and Israel.

The full submission can be read HERE