Written question WQ89340
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- First Minister
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 10 days
Question
Will the Welsh Government join the UK Government in flying the Israeli flag on its buildings to show solidarity following the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas?
Answer
Answered by First Minister (Mark Drakeford)
The situation in the Middle East is complex and requires a far more nuanced response than can be expressed simply through flying flags.
We stand in solidarity with all innocent civilians in Israel and Gaza caught up in the appalling escalation of terror and violence. The Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip has been reaching out to community leaders to express our condolences and to hear from them about the impacts the current situation is having.
We continue to condemn the perpetrators of the attacks on Israeli citizens, and we repeat calls for international law to be respected and upheld. The lives of civilians and civilian facilities in both Gaza and Israel must be protected. Civilians should never be a target.
As I said in the chamber last week, condemnation alone is not enough. A two-state solution, the policy of the UK Government and the United Nations, is the only way to ensure lasting peace and security for all civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian.