Asked by: Mike Freer (Conservative - Finchley and Golders Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the military capability of Hamas.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We assess that Hamas maintains the ability to launch rocket attacks and armed attacks through tunnels on Israel from within Gaza.
We call on Hamas to renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept previously signed agreements.
Asked by: Mike Freer (Conservative - Finchley and Golders Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Palestinian Authority on its accession to the International Criminal Court.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) spoke to Palestinian Authority President Abbas about this issue on 7 January.
Asked by: Mike Freer (Conservative - Finchley and Golders Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Lithuanian government to secure restitution for British citizens who had assets seized by the Nazis as soon as possible.
Answered by David Lidington
The Government attaches great importance to supporting the families tragically affected by the Holocaust – including on the issue of property restitution. I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 30 January 2014, Official Report, column 689W.
Asked by: Mike Freer (Conservative - Finchley and Golders Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of recent reports that Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said that his organisation will not renounce violence or recognise Israel.
Answered by Hugh Robertson
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 June 2014, Official Report, column 91W.
Asked by: Mike Freer (Conservative - Finchley and Golders Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to European governments to secure as quickly as possible restitution for British citizens who had assets seized by the Nazis.
Answered by David Lidington
I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 30 January 2014, Official Report, column 689W. Since January, the British Government has engaged at Ministerial or official level with the Germans, Poles and Russians on restitution and looted art.
Asked by: Mike Freer (Conservative - Finchley and Golders Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for the Middle East peace process of recent reports that Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said his organisation will not renounce violence or recognise Israel.
Answered by Hugh Robertson
Reuniting Gaza and the West Bank under a Palestinian Authority committed to peace with Israel is a necessary step towards resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a key element of a viable negotiated solution. We welcome the formation on 2 June of a new interim technocratic government for the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We have made clear that our continued support to the new Palestinian government will rest on its commitment to the principle of non-violence, a negotiated two state solution, and an acceptance of all previous agreements and obligations, including Israel's legitimate right to exist. We now look to the new government to demonstrate these commitments through its actions as well as its words.