Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they plan to make to the government of Israel about reports of plans to demolish Lifta and to construct a new settlement in its stead.

The UK regularly raises the issue of demolitions and forced evictions of Palestinians from their homes with the Government of Israel. The Fourth Geneva Convention, which applies to all occupied territories, prohibits demolitions or forced evictions absent military necessity. The UK is clear that in all but the most exceptional of circumstances, evictions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. The practice causes unnecessary suffering to Palestinians and is harmful to efforts to promote peace. We are monitoring the situation in Lifta closely, and we continue to urge Israel to cease such actions.