Israel slams Birmingham MP

Apr 23 2009

"The invitation of Mashaal is a slap in the face to Palestinian leaders such as Mahmoud Abbas, who, despite a history of terrorism and violence, abandoned terror in favour of negotiations."

A Conservative Party spokesman said: "Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK. There is therefore no way that Mr Mashaal, who is probably the foremost proponent of the terrorist tactics that Hamas has used against Israel for years, would be allowed to address a meeting in Parliament in person.

"David Lidington, shadow minister for the Middle East, has written to the Speaker to draw the planned meeting to his attention and raise the concerns of the Conservative Party about the message it sends."

The meeting, which is not open to the public, is due to take place in a room in Portcullis House. A spokeswoman for the Commons authorities said the meeting would go ahead as it was based on a video link not a personal appearance, saying that "freedom of speech" issues were involved.