Written question asked by Baroness Tonge (Non-affiliated) on Tuesday, 28 July 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 August 2020. It was answered by Baroness Sugg (Conservative) on Thursday, 6 August 2020 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Israeli Settlements

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about reports of the construction of (1) a new settlement near Asira a-Shamaliya on land owned by Palestinians, and (2) earthworks by Israeli armed forces preventing Palestinians from reaching their farmland.

Answer: We consistently call for an immediate end to all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution, including settlement expansion and restrictions on freedom of movement within the West Bank, including to and from East Jerusalem. The UK's position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and threaten they physical viability of a two-state solution. We urge Israel to halt settlement expansion immediately. We continue to stress to the Israeli authorities the damage that their restrictions on movement, access and trade are doing to the living standards of ordinary Palestinians. We are encouraging both sides to maintain calm and avoid taking actions which make peace more difficult to achieve.

Secondary information