FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER
1. Philip Hollobone: What recent information has DfID received on PA’s provision of welfare payments, and Israel’s provision of canteen payments, to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons?
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131025/text/131025w0002.htm#13102538000073
Commons Written Answers
THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER 2013
– Lord Lamont: Does not agree with Netanyahu that Rouhani is the same old thing with a smile. “Israel has made it quite clear that it does not want an agreement between the West and Iran. I suspect that it would prefer a country which is beyond the pale. It does not want a large country in the Middle East that has normal or near-normal relations with the United States.” Israel wants entire Iranian enrichment programme dismantled; Israeli Defence Minister believes Iran genuinely wants a deal.
– Bishop of Ripon and Leeds: Not convinced by arguments about the part Iran plays in “the funding of rejectionist Palestinian entities”.
Lords Grand Committee
2. Bishop of Worcester: What steps do HMG intend to take to implement new EC guidelines on funding of Israeli settlement-based entities and activities?
3. Bishop of Worcester: What is HMG’s assessment of whether new EC guidelines on Israeli settlement-based entities and activities will apply to Horizon 2020 research programme?
4. Bishop of Worcester: What progress is being made by the EC, the European External Action Service and the EU Foreign Affairs Council on preparation of EU guidelines on labelling of settlement products?
Lords Written Answers
WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER 2013
1. Questions to DfID Secretary:
– Paul Blomfield: What is DfID Secretary's assessment of adequacy of food, fuel and medical supplies entering Gaza each day?
– Alan Duncan: Although the supply of food in Gaza is adequate, prices are rising fast. The level of fuel and medical supplies has dropped, exacerbating an already precarious humanitarian situation and threatening the basic needs of ordinary people in Gaza.
– Paul Blomfield: Impoverished population reliant on tunnels for affordable goods; tightening of restrictions by Egypt and Israel resulting in shockingly high prices; will HMG acknowledge that the blockade of Gaza is a violation of international humanitarian and human rights law and constitutes collective punishment?
– Speaker: Appeals to House to be less noisy, saying: “There are extremely serious matters of life and death in Gaza.”
– Alan Duncan: “We would far rather see free movement and access for trade and economic activity in Gaza than an economy that is channelled through tunnels in a way that benefits Hamas. Israel’s plan to expand the capacity of the Allenby crossing between the west bank and Jordan is a welcome example of the sort of steps that can be taken to improve trade.”
– Sir Tony Baldry: International community and UNWRA will have to continue supporting thousands of people in Gaza and the WB until a two-state solution is found or until Gaza and the WB are incorporated into de jure Israel. “Permanent occupation is a perpetual hell for thousands of people.”
– Alan Duncan: I hope that current efforts will lead to a two-state solution and peace and security between the two countries.
– Ann McKechin: What steps is DfID taking to assist small businesses in Gaza, particularly fishermen, who have been hit hard by the virtual doubling of the fuel price in recent weeks?
– Alan Duncan: “The amount of fuel that enters Gaza via the tunnels has halved from about 1 million litres a day in June to about 500,000 litres this month. The Gaza power plant is operating at half its capacity, triggering electricity blackouts of up to 12 hours a day, exacerbating the already difficult economic and humanitarian situation in Gaza.”
Commons Oral Answers
– Jim Cunningham: Will DfID Secretary say what discussions she has had with Israel about price of petrol for Palestinians?
– Alan Duncan: DfID is in regular discussions with Israel and we make representations whenever we can.
3. Palestinian entities included in Treasury report “Operation of the UK’s Counter-Terrorist Asset Freezing Regime: 1 July 2013 to 30 September 2013”
4. David T. C. Davies: What is Foreign Secretary's policy on a two state solution?
5. Baroness Tonge: What discussions have HMG had with Israel concerning the arrest, alleged torture of, and murder charges against, five boys from Hares village?
THURSDAY 17 OCTOBER 2013
1. Nick de Bois: What recent assessment has Foreign Secretary made of Iran’s support for Hamas?
Commons Written Answers
2. Lord Dykes: What proposals will HMG put to Israel to publish details of its nuclear arsenal and join the NPT?
3. Baroness Tonge: What representations have HMG made to Israel on bulldozing of the Bedouin village Az Za’ayyem in land earmarked for settlement construction in E1?
4. Baroness Tonge: What representations have HMG made to Israel concerning army’s barring of EU and Red Cross relief tents following demolition of Makhul?
Lords Written Answers
5. Lord Hylton: What representations have HMG made to UNWRA on widening its mandate to include Palestinian refugees in Kuwait and Iraq, and those who fled from there to third countries?
Lords Written Answers
PS: There was a very interesting just over an hour-long session of Commons Political and Constitutional Committee after William Hague told MPs in 2011 that the Government would enshrine in law the requirement for Parliament to be consulted on military action.
WEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER 2013
1. Foreign Secretary will attend the FAC on 21 October and David Livington the GAC on 22 October in Luxembourg. FAC will be chaired by Baroness Ashton who “will outline progress on the middle east peace process, including on the EU settlement guidelines. We do not expect discussion, but if it ensues we will reaffirm our support for the negotiation process, our continued support for the economic track and our position on the EU settlement guidelines, as necessary.”
Commons Written Statements
2. Andrew Smith: Pursuant to his answer of 2 September 2013 [viz.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm130902/text/130902w0012.htm], what assessment has Foreign Secretary made of whether all bilateral programmes between the UK and Israel are compliant with EU law and international law?
Commons Written Answers
TUESDAY 15 OCTOBER 2013
1. Andrew Smith: What assessment has DfID Secretary made of the effects of the demolition by Egypt of the tunnels into Gaza and the reduced access through Rafah on the daily supplies of food, fuel, construction materials and medicines entering Gaza?
2. Andrew Smith: What representations has DfID Secretary made to Israel on increasing the flow of food, fuel and medicines into Gaza from Israel through Kerem Shalom?
3. Andrew Smith: What assessment has DfID Secretary made of the effects of Israel’s restrictions on Palestinian fishing boats off Gaza on the income and the nutritional status of Palestinians?
Commons Written Answers
MONDAY 14 OCTOBER 2013
1. Andy Slaughter: What reports has Foreign Secretary received on the case of the five schoolboys from Hares arrested by Israel in March 2013?
2. Andrew Smith: Will Foreign Secretary list all bilateral project and programme agreements between the UK and Israel?
3. Fiona O’Donnell: What representations has Foreign Secretary made to Israel concerning the treatment of Issa Amro?
4. David T. C. Davies: What steps has FCO taken to support recent peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders and what recent progress has been made?
5. Andrew Smith: Pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2013 [viz. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm130612/text/130612w0002.htm#13061290000049]
when will Foreign Secretary publish specific human rights guidance for businesses on involvement with settlements on the Business Risk Service website?
6. Andrew Smith: What safeguards have been included in bilateral project and programme agreements with Israel to exclude participation from businesses or institutions wholly or partly based in settlements in East Jerusalem or OPTs?
Nos 1-6 Commons Written Answers
Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is not aware of any businesses or institutions based in Israeli settlements participating in bilateral projects and programme agreements.