Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli Government on its approval of the first new settlement in the West Bank in over 20 years, Amichai; and if he will make a statement.

On 31 March the Foreign Secretary issued a statement condemning the Israeli government’s decision to found this new settlement deep in the West Bank. I discussed the issue of settlements, including "Amichai" with the Israeli ambassador on 22 June. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv also expressed our grave concerns to the Israeli authorities on 31 March over this settlement.