Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the proposed removal of Palestinian families from Khan Al-Ahmar in order to expand the Kfar Adumim settlement; and if he will make a statement.

The Foreign Secretary raised the issue of the Bedouin village of Khan Al Ahmar during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on 6 June. He also issued a statement on 1 June calling on Israel to reconsider its proposals to demolish the village and expressing concern that Israel was planning to expand the settlement of Kfar Adumim beside Khan al-Ahmar. I visited the village during my visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 30 May. I met with the Israeli Minister of Planning on 31st May and I emphasised the UK’s concern at the village’s imminent demolition.