Question: by Baroness Tonge (Independent) on 10 June 2019
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Hebron, (HL16231)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the consequences for Palestinian children in Hebron of the removal of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron by the government of Israel.
Answer: by: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on 24 June 2019
We are concerned by Israel’s decision not to extend the mandate for Hebron’s international monitoring mission. The mission has been in Hebron for over 20 years and fulfilled an important role in reducing tensions in the city between Israeli settlers and Palestinian communities. Our Ambassador to Israel raised our concerns over this decision with the Israeli authorities on 29 January. The former Minister for the Middle East discussed our concerns with the Israeli Ambassador to the UK on 31 January and in a tweet on 2 February.
Question: by Baroness Tonge (Independent) on 07 May 2019
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Israeli Settlements (HL15579)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that the government of Israel intends to seize 95 acres of Palestinian-owned agricultural lands in order to build new roads for Israeli settlers; and what steps they intend to take to protect Palestinians who own and farm such land.
Answer: by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on 21 May 2019
We oppose any steps taken by the Israeli Government towards the expansion of settlements. We consistently call for an immediate end to all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution, including the UK’s statement at the UN Security Council on 29 April, and we continue to raise with our Israeli counterparts our concerns about the destruction of Palestinian agricultural land that has been caused by settlement-related activity.
Question: by Baroness Tonge (Independent) on 04 June 2019
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, West Bank: Schools (HL16065)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel about the auction of prefabricated classrooms that were confiscated by Israeli forces from a Palestinian village in the northern West Bank.
Answer: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on 17 June 2019
The EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah have written to the Israeli authorities, calling on them to ‘return the confiscated items to their intended beneficiaries without precondition as soon as possible; otherwise to provide compensation without delay for the dismantled and confiscated assets’. Alongside other EU member states, the UK continues to raise these issues with the Government of Israel.
Question: Asked by Baroness Tonge (Independent)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they will make to the government of Israel about the killing of Yasser Fawzi Shweiki and reports that the Palestinian Red Crescent Society’s medics were prevented from attending the scene. (HL 14803)
Answer: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) Minister of State on 8th April 2019
We have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities. The British Government is very concerned at the high numbers of Palestinians killed by Israel Defence Forces in the West Bank and Gaza. We recognise the Israeli authorities’ legitimate need to deploy security measures in some circumstances, but we have encouraged them to avoid excessive use of force and to act in a way which minimises tensions. When there have been accusations of excessive use of force, we have urged the Israeli authorities to conduct swift and transparent investigations. We continue to call on the Israeli Government to ease movement and access restrictions for Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and to improve access to medical care. We are clear that medical staff should have the protection that allows them to do their jobs in safety.
Q Asked by Baroness Tonge (Independent) on 29 January 2019
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Israel: West Bank. HL13267
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel about the number of road closures in the West Bank.
A Answered by: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on 11 February 2019
We remain deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of movement within the West Bank, including to and from East Jerusalem. Through our Embassy in Tel Aviv we have lobbied the authorities on the issue of movement and access. We continue to work closely with the Quartet and EU partners to call on Israel to ease restrictions on access.
Q Asked by Baroness Tonge (Independent) on 14 January 2019
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Palestinians: Travel Restrictions. HL12815
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding the closure of a checkpoint south of Jenin, following reports that the closure prevented students from attending school exams.
A Answered by: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on 28 January 2019
While we have not raised this particular case, we remain deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of movement within the West Bank. Through our Embassy in Tel Aviv we have lobbied the Israeli authorities on the issue of movement and access.