Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to her Department's Memorandum of Understanding with the Palestinian Authority (PA), what discussions her Department has had with the PA on the PA Minister of Culture declaring March 16 as National Reading Day out of loyalty to the Martyrs.

The UK Government deplores any act of incitement to violence. Our partnership with the Palestinian Authority (PA) includes a commitment from the Palestinian leadership to adhere to the principle of non-violence and to tackle language and avoid actions that could incite violence or hatred. During my most recent visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories in May 2018, I personally led this year’s high level annual meeting as part of our annual dialogue with the PA where I challenged the PA on a number of issues such as incitement, though I did not raise this specific incident. The UK continues to urge the Palestinian leadership to uphold this principle of non-violence.