Israel: Religious Freedom

(asked on 18th April 2023) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking with international partners and the government of Israel to preserve the status quo of the Al-Aqsa compound and freedom of worship in occupied East Jerusalem, following the storming of the Al-Aqsa mosque and the restrictions placed on Muslims coming to worship there during Ramadan.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 4th May 2023

As the Foreign Secretary said in his statement on 7 April, the UK condemns Israeli police violence at Al Aqsa Mosque. When Israeli security forces conduct operations, they must ensure they are proportionate and in accordance with international law. The UK is a strong supporter of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and calls for places of worship to be respected. We value the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan's custodianship of the holy sites in Jerusalem and urge all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions.

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