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Written question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Howell of Guildford (Conservative) on Tuesday, 1 May 2012.


Israel and Palestine: West Bank

Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 23 April (WA 353), when they expect consideration by the European Union of further measures designed to limit expansion of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories and to deter violence by settlers against local inhabitants, including bans on entry to the European Union, to be completed.
Answer

The European Union Foreign Affairs Council (EUFAC) most recently discussed the Middle East peace process at their meeting on 23 April 2012. European Union (EU) Foreign Ministers took note of Baroness Ashton’s briefing on the peace process in her role as EU representative to the Quartet, including on the statement issued by the Quartet on 11 April 2012. Ministers noted the concern expressed by the Quartet over unilateral and provocative actions by either party, including continued settlement activity, as well as over settler violence and incitement in the West Bank. There was broad consensus among Ministers at the EUFAC on the need for further EU action on settlements. This was primarily driven by increasing concern about the threat settlements pose to the viability of a two-state solution. The EUFAC agreed to review this issue at the next EUFAC meeting on 14 May, with a substantive discussion and EUFAC conclusions. The Government are increasingly concerned about illegal settlement activity and the actions of violent settlers, and their impact on peace and stability. The UK, together with our EU partners, fully supports the efforts of the EU High Representative to maintain focus on these critical issues. The full statement of the Quartet on 11 April can be found at: www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/ docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/129513.pdf


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
16830; 736 c457-8WA
Session
2010-12
Related items
Israel and Palestine: West Bank
Monday, 23 April 2012
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Construction Housing EU action Violence Israel Occupied territories
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk