UK MPs spend twice as much time debating Israel as the NHS, analysis shows

MPs in the United Kingdom have spent more than twice as much parliamentary time debating Israel as they have on the NHS over the past year, according to an analysis by the Jewish Chronicle.

Parliament’s online records show that between October 7 of last year and October 18 this year, MPs made 4,369 contributions in the chamber related to Israel, compared with 1,895 on the NHS.

The focus on Israel has even overshadowed discussion of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, mentioned only 1,449 times, and the war in Sudan, where millions are in urgent need of humanitarian aid, discussed just 225 times.

The data on parliamentary “contributions” - encompassing speeches, oral questions, and interventions - has sparked concern among politicians and Jewish leaders.

Former Labour MP Louise Ellman commented, “The obsession with Israel and the Palestinians crowds out the space for debate on other hugely important issues.” She argued this focus may signal to media organizations that their “distorted and biased reporting” on Israel, including the failure to label Hamas' acts as terrorism, is acceptable.