Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has received from (a) The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and (b) human rights organisations in respect of potential of forced (i) evictions, (ii) displacement and (iii) transfer against Palestinians living in the Masafer Yatta region of the West Bank.

Demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their homes cause unnecessary suffering; call into question Israel's commitment to a viable two-state solution; and in all but the most exceptional of cases are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. The Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, reiterated this position to Israeli Foreign Minister Cohen during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in January, during which time he also visited a school in Masafer Yatta. The Foreign Secretary has also made this point to Israeli Foreign Minister Cohen when he met with him on 21 March. The UK, through the British Consulate General Jerusalem, continues to work closely with human rights organisations operating in Masafer Yatta.