FRIDAY 13 MARCH 2015
- Baroness Tonge: What representations have HMG made to the government of Israel following the reported shooting of a man on the roof of his family home in Deheishe refugee camp?
- Baroness Tonge: Following the shooting of a Palestinian student drinking from a water fountain in a Jerusalem school, what representations will HMG make to the government of Israel concerning schools in the West Bank becoming secure areas for children?
- Baroness Tonge: In the light of the report in Haaretz that Israel already has a plan to evacuate the communities along the Gaza Strip border, what assessment have HMG made of the likelihood of military action in that area; and what steps are they taking with the international community to prepare to evacuate Gazan citizens in the event of such action?
- Baroness Tonge: What discussions have HMG had with the government of Israel concerning its plan to expropriate 500 dunams of land in East Jerusalem for a landfill site?
- Lord Ahmed: What are the latest developments in respect of the United Kingdom trading with Israeli settlements?
Lords Written Answers
EDM 868 – DETENTION AND TREATMENT OF BOYS FROM HARES
THURDAY 12 MARCH 2015
- FCO’s Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report 2014 – Israel and OPTs:
We remained seriously concerned about the human rights situation in Israel and the OPTs in 2014. Our principal concerns related to the Israeli government’s violation of international human rights and humanitarian law in the context of Israel’s occupation of the OPTs. And we continued to have concerns about serious human rights abuses by Hamas.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorated significantly. The summer conflict left over 2,000 people dead, and more than 100,000 homeless, with 450,000 lacking access to clean water. To date, reconstruction has been insufficient. The Israeli authorities continued with settlement expansion, reintroduced punitive demolitions of Palestinian property, and made little progress to ease restrictions on movement and access. Access to the Holy Sites in Jerusalem was restricted on several occasions, including the Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount being closed to all faiths for the first time since 2000. There was also a lack of progress on the rights of minorities. We continued to seek improvements in the treatment of Palestinians in detention, notably children. The Israeli authorities took some positive steps, including a change in procedure to use summonses in place of night-time arrests. We will push for these changes to be fully implemented and to encourage further changes in practice.
We continued to have concerns about breaches of human rights under Hamas, the de facto government rule in the Gaza Strip, particularly during the summer’s conflict, with reports of the use of human shields and extrajudicial executions. We were also concerned by continued reports of mistreatment towards detainees by the Palestinian security forces in the West Bank.
In 2015, we will support genuine efforts towards a final resolution to the conflict. We will work for all sides to maintain calm, and take steps towards peace. We will continue to oppose any aspects of the Israeli occupation that violate human rights and humanitarian law. We will push for the cessation of construction of settlements, which the UK condemns in the strongest terms, maintenance of the status quo at Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount, and the necessary reconstruction and improved movement and access for Gaza. [to read the full report click: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/israel-and-the-occupied-palestinian-territories-country-of-concern/israel-and-the-occupied-palestinian-territories-country-of-concern
Commons Written Statements
- Questions to the Church Commissioners: St George’s Cathedral (Jerusalem)
– Jeremy Lefroy asked if the Church Commissioners will take steps to support St George’s cathedral in “Jerusalem”. [ed – the cathedral is in occupied East Jerusalem]
– Sir Tony Baldry replied.
– Duncan Hames also contributed to the discussion.
Commons Oral Questions
THURDAY 12 MARCH 2015 – PART 1
FCO’s Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report 2014 – Israel and OPTs:
[Introduction]: Throughout 2014, the UK supported the United States-led push for a comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; we were disappointed that greater progress was not made. We stand ready to assist the parties if negotiations resume.
We remained seriously concerned about the human rights situation in Israel and the OPTs in 2014. Our principal concerns related to the Israeli government’s violation of international human rights and humanitarian law in the context of Israel’s occupation of the OPTs. And we continued to have concerns about serious human rights abuses by Hamas.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorated significantly. The summer conflict left over 2,000 people dead, and more than 100,000 homeless, with 450,000 lacking access to clean water. To date, reconstruction has been insufficient. The Israeli authorities continued with settlement expansion, reintroduced punitive demolitions of Palestinian property, and made little progress to ease restrictions on movement and access. Access to the Holy Sites in Jerusalem was restricted on several occasions, including the Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount being closed to all faiths for the first time since 2000. There was also a lack of progress on the rights of minorities. We continued to seek improvements in the treatment of Palestinians in detention, notably children. The Israeli authorities took some positive steps, including a change in procedure to use summonses in place of night-time arrests. We will push for these changes to be fully implemented and to encourage further changes in practice.
We continued to have concerns about breaches of human rights under Hamas, the de facto government rule in the Gaza Strip, particularly during the summer’s conflict, with reports of the use of human shields and extrajudicial executions. We were also concerned by continued reports of mistreatment towards detainees by the Palestinian security forces in the West Bank.
In 2015, we will support genuine efforts towards a final resolution to the conflict. We will work for all sides to maintain calm, and take steps towards peace. We will continue to oppose any aspects of the Israeli occupation that violate human rights and humanitarian law. We will push for the cessation of construction of settlements, which the UK condemns in the strongest terms, maintenance of the status quo at Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount, and the necessary reconstruction and improved movement and access for Gaza. [to read the full report click: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/israel-and-the-occupied-palestinian-territories-country-of-concern/israel-and-the-occupied-palestinian-territories-country-of-concern
WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015
- Desmond Swayne: The UK is helping the Palestinian Authority (PA) to build strong institutions and deliver essential services. Our support is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding which reaffirms the PA’s commitment to non-violence and a negotiated two-state solution, as well as its respect for human rights and delivering clean and accountable governance in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We are also helping deliver institutional reform and improve public financial management, and working with civil society to help citizens become more effective at holding the PA to account. [from Written Answer to Sir Menzies Campbell]
Commons Written Answers
EDM 855 – INVOLVEMENT OF HAMAS IN A FUTURE PALESTINIAN STATE
TUESDAY 10 MARCH 2015
- Barry Sheerman: What recent representations has Foreign Secretary received on restricting the supply of arms to the Israeli government from UK weapons manufacturers, and will he make a statement?
- Matthew Offord: What recent discussions has Foreign secretary had with his Swedish counterpart on that country’s decision to recognise Palestine as a state?
Nos 1-2 Commons Written Answers
- Lord Soley [speaking on Soft Power and the UK’s Influence (Select Committee Report)] : “When I was working for the Good Governance Foundation, I helped Abu Dhabi to set up a postgraduate course in the rule of law with outreach to Palestine, so that 28 Palestinian students could attend the course. The Foreign Office, through both the Palestinian and Abu Dhabi link, was immensely helpful.” [extract]
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201415/ldhansrd/text/150310-0001.htm#15031037000387
Lords Debates
MONDAY 9 MARCH 2015
- Baroness Tonge: Written Question to HMG: What progress has been made in Gaza with regard to (1) rehousing displaced families, (2) bringing water, sanitation and food assistance to the inhabitants, and (3) applying international law to end the blockade?
Lords Written Answers