Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her Department has had with its Belgian equivalents on developing a common European response to Israeli demolition of EU-funded development projects in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

No such discussions have taken place. The UK remains deeply concerned about demolitions of Palestinian property, which cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians, are harmful to the peace process and, in all but the most limited circumstances, are contrary to international humanitarian law. The UK and the EU are currently engaging with the Israeli authorities in order to accelerate the approval of UK-funded masterplans for Palestinian communities in Area C of the West Bank. These plans provide the basis for sustainable development in Area C and reduce the risk of demolition.