Parliament update 4-8 March

THURSDAY 7 MARCH 2013

1. Chris Williamson: What steps does Foreign Secretary plan to take to encourage Israel to stop detention of Palestinian prisoners inside Israel?

2. Chris Williamson: Does Foreign Secretary plan to take steps against UK directors of G4 over transfer of Palestinian prisoners to Israeli prisons?

3. Chris Williamson: What discussions has Foreign Secretary had with Israel about night-time arrests of children?

4. Chris Williamson: What recent discussions has Foreign Secretary had with Israel about recording of police interviews with children?

5. Chris Williamson: Will Foreign Secretary make representations to Israel that Palestinian children should not be blindfolded or hooded on arrest?

6. Chris Williamson: What representations has Foreign Secretary made to Israel about incorrect origin declarations for goods imported under EU-Israel Agreement?

7. Chris Williamson: Will Foreign Secretary take steps to limit territorial competence of EU trade agreements to Israel’s 1967 borders?

8. Chris Williamson: Will Foreign Secretary review arms export licences to Israel?

Nos 1-8

9. Chris Williamson: What steps is Foreign Secretary taking to encourage opening of Rafah crossing for humanitarian supplies?

10. Chris Williamson: What representations has Foreign Secretary made to Israel about civilian casualties in Gaza?

11. Chris Williamson: What estimate has Foreign Secretary made of number of civilian casualties in recent outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Gaza?

Nos 9-11

12. Nicholas Soames: What representations has Foreign Secretary made about construction of a wall around Al Walaja?

13. Chris Williamson: What steps does Foreign Secretary plan to take to encourage Israel to end settlement building?

14. Chris Williamson: What steps is Foreign Secretary taking to encourage Israel to return Palestinian land to its owners?

15. Chris Williamson: What steps does Foreign Secretary plan to take to encourage Israel to move separation barrier back to Green Line?

16. Chris Williamson: What steps is Foreign Secretary taking to persuade Israel to stop demolition of Palestinian homes?

17. Chris Williamson: What representations has Foreign Secretary made to Israel over construction of a wall around Al Walaja?

18. Chris Williamson: What representations has Foreign Secretary made to Israel over repeated demolitions of Beit Arabiya house in Anata?

19. Chris Williamson: What steps does Foreign Secretary plan to take to stop house demolitions in East Jerusalem and West Bank?

20. Chris Williamson: What discussions has Foreign Secretary had with Israel on compensation for houses demolished in Gaza?

21. Chris Williamson: What estimate has Foreign Secretary made of number of houses demolished in occupied West Bank since 1967?

22. Chris Williamson: What steps does Foreign Secretary plan to take in response to demolitions in Silwan in East Jerusalem?

23. Nicholas Soames: What estimate has Foreign Secretary made of number of houses demolished in occupied West Bank since 1967?

24. Nicholas Soames: What steps does Foreign Secretary plan to take in response to demolitions in Silwan in East Jerusalem?

25. Nicholas Soames: What steps does Foreign Secretary plan to take to stop house demolitions in East Jerusalem and West Bank?

26. Chris Williamson: Will Foreign Secretary commission research on legality of importing goods produced in Israeli settlements?

27. Chris Williamson: What assessment has Foreign Secretary made of Irish Government’s call for EU-wide ban on imports from Israeli settlements?

28. Chris Williamson: Do UK missions in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem purchase settlement goods?

29. Chris Williamson: What legal advice has Foreign Secretary sought on whether trade with Israeli settlements breaches UK’s obligation under international law?

30. Chris Williamson: What advice does Foreign Secretary give to tour operators about payments to hotels and bus operators in illegal Israeli settlements?

31. Chris Williamson: Will Foreign Secretary make representations to European Commission to publish names of companies mis-stating origin of goods from illegal Israeli settlements?

32. Chris Williamson: What assessment has Foreign Secretary made of whether settlement building by Israel in planning area E1 is compatible with two-state solution?

33. Chris Williamson: What assessment has Foreign Secretary made of announcement that houses will be built between Jerusalem and Bethlehem in Gilo and between Jerusalem and Bethlehem in Givat Hamatos?

34. Chris Williamson: What assessment has Foreign Secretary made of announcement that houses will be built between Jerusalem and Ramallah in Ramat Shlomo?

Nos 12-34

35. Chris Williamson: What steps is Foreign Secretary taking to ensure that UK companies conform to ICJ’s ruling that UK is under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining situation created by construction of security barrier inside Palestine’s borders?

1. Questions following Foreign Secretary’s statement on Syria:

– Elfyn Llwyd: We need to do everything we can to avoid further complications, given yesterday’s threat by Israel that it cannot stand idle if civil war spills over its border.

2. Nicholas Soames: What representations has Foreign Secretary made to Israel on incorrect origin declarations for goods imported under EU-Israel Agreement?

3. Nicholas Soames: What estimate has Foreign Secretary made of number of civilian casualties in recent outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Gaza? [Alistair Burt: i.a. “We understand that 158 Palestinians and six Israelis were killed during the conflict.”]

4. Nicholas Soames: What assessment has Foreign Secretary made of implications for peace process of announcement that more houses will be built in Ramat Shlomo?

5. Nicholas Soames: What assessment has Foreign Secretary made of implications for peace process of announcement that houses will be built in Givat Hamatos?

6. Nicholas Soames: Will Foreign Secretary commission research on legality of importing produce from settlements?

7. Nicholas Soames: What legal advice has Foreign Secretary sought on whether trade in products from settlements  breaches UK’s obligation under international law?

8. Nicholas Soames: What steps is Foreign Secretary taking to persuade Israel to stop demolition of Palestinian homes?

9. Sir Bob Russell: Will Culture Secretary make representations to FA that England team should withdraw from UEFA under-21 finals in Israel as a result of its refusal to co-operate with UNHRC?

1. Questions to Foreign Secretary:

– Nia Griffiths: Legal borders of Palestine as laid down in UNSCR 242 should be starting point for negotiations and not facts on the ground.

– Ian Mearns: Foreign Secretary expects patience of Job from Palestinians; demolition of homes in Silwan for a tourist attraction will only hinder progress.

– Steve Brine: Asks Foreign Secretary for update on his visit to Lebanon last week.

– Luciana Berger: When will Foreign Secretary meet Tzipi Livni?

– Chris Williamson: Will Foreign Secretary make clear that freeze on settlements is not a Palestinian precondition but a requirement of international law?

– Sir Menzies Campbell: What is the prospect for Israel’s security if, as many think, chance for two state solution is already past?

– Robert Halfon: Israel must be given guarantees that any withdrawal from WB will not be followed by rocket attacks as happened in the case of Gaza. [William Hague: i.a. “I am very concerned at reports of rockets being fired from Gaza into Israel last week, which was the first such incident since the ceasefire agreement in November.”]

– Crispin Blunt: Isn’t it time to make clear to Israel that serious consequences must follow if they continue their flagrant breaches of international law?

– Gerald Kaufman: Will Foreign Secretary make clear to Netanyahu that if the Palestinan prisoners on long-term hunger strike die, their blood will be on his hands?

– James Clappison, Louise Ellman, Paul Maynard and Douglas Alexander all asked about Hezbollah in regard to terrorist attack in Bulgaria.

– Sir Bob Russell: When will we stop appeasing a racist state that runs segregated buses for Palestinians, with echoes of US segregation and South African apartheid?

– David Winnick: Crux of the matter is that previous Israeli governments didn’t believe there would be consequences to their actions; what would we do if we were in the Palestinians’ shoes?

– Andrew Turner: In no other country would we allow large numbers of migrants to occupy its land and deny it to local people.

– Andrew Slaughter: When will Foreign Secretary take steps to stop import of illegal settlement goods?

Topical Questions to Foreign Secretary:

–  Sarah Teather: Israeli navy shooting at Palestinian boats fishing well within limit should be condemned as well as Palestinian rockets.

– Jeremy Corbyn: What is being done to lift Gaza blockade to enable Gazans to have clean water and a decent standard of living?

– David Mowat: UK’s reason for not voting at UN for Palestinian state was not to undermine a future US-led peace process. When might we be able to vote in a different direction?

1. Philip Hollobone: (in “Syria: anti-government forces” debate) Asks what extra assistance UK could give to Palestinian refugees who have now fled from Syria to Lebanon and so have been made refugees twice over?

2. Nigel Adams: What assessment has Foreign Secretary made of security situation in Sinai?

3. Nicholas Soames: What representations has Foreign Secretary made to Israel on civilian casualties in Gaza?

4. “First World War: Centenary” debate: Lord Cope and Lord Sheikh hope commemorations will include all those who took part in WW1, including those who served in Palestine.