Oral Answers to Questions

Kevin Hollinrake Excerpts

Tuesday 26th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gavin Shuker (Luton South) (Lab/Co-op)]

16. What recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on prospects for the peace process in Israel and Palestine.

[Kevin Hollinrake (Thirsk and Malton) (Con)]

19. What the policy of the Government is on a two-state solution in the middle east.

[Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) (Lab)]

25. What recent representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on Israeli settlements in the west bank.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alistair Burt]

I am not sure about the second part because we do raise issues of human rights, particularly in relation to settlements and the like. On the first part, yes, the concern about the location of Khan al-Ahmar—its close proximity to E1 and the possibility of development there being a bar to contiguity—is indeed a concern for the whole of the international community. It is still possible for any demolition not to go ahead.

[Kevin Hollinrake]

There is clearly a systemic issue at the heart of this. Residents of Khan al-Ahmar are being forcibly removed and the village demolished. As the court judgment says, the homes have been built without consent, but there is no means of getting consent because permissions are systemically denied to Palestinians. It is a Catch-22 situation that leaves families in a perpetual state of homelessness. How can such a policy be deemed fair or reasonable, and what influence can my right hon. Friend bring to bear to resolve it?

[Alistair Burt]

The concerns that my hon. Friend raises have been at the heart of the discussions on this. Israel has a judicial system. It is true that concerns about the possible demolition of Khan al-Ahmar have been raised in the Israeli courts for a lengthy period, and it has not gone ahead, as others demolitions have not gone ahead. We continue to appeal to the Israeli authorities that, despite their judicial system, the Government can make a decision in relation to Khan al-Ahmar, and the problem in relation to finding building permits in area C is well known.