Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the sustainability of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees’ working definition of a Palestinian refugee.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK recognises the United Nations Relief and Works Agency's (UNRWA) unique mandate from the UN General Assembly, to protect and provide essential services to Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. The UK is clear that the status of Palestinian refugees is a final status issue, and must be agreed as part of wider peace negotiations. Accordingly the UK has not made an assessment of the sustainability of the UNRWA's working definition of a Palestinian refugee.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees about its working definition of a refugee.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is clear that the status of Palestinian refugees is a final status issue, and must be agreed as part of wider peace negotiations. Accordingly the UK has not made representations to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) regarding its working definition of a Palestinian refugee. The UK remains a firmly committed supporter of UNRWA, and Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, and we will do everything we can to maintain continuity of essential services at this time.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Palestinian Authority’s ability to deliver public services within the Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to the objective of a sovereign and prosperous Palestinian state, living side by side with a safe and secure Israel. That is why we are a key donor to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and why we have put such emphasis on strengthening Palestinian institutions and fostering private sector-led, sustainable economic growth in the West Bank. The UK is concerned about the effects of US and Israeli cuts to the PA's budget on both the PA's ability to deliver essential services to Palestinians and on the prospects for peace and stability in the region. We are also concerned by the PA's decision to not accept reduced clearance revenues from Israel. The PA needs to be financially sustainable to ensure stability, deliver services to Palestinians, and to fulfil its responsibilities under the Oslo Accords. UK aid helps to ensure the PA's financial stability. In 2018/19 UK aid to the PA helped to pay the salaries of 37,600 teachers, doctors, nurses, midwives and other health and education public servants. No UK aid is used for payments to Palestinian prisoners or their families.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment has been made of the value for money to the UK taxpayer of the 690,189 shekels (£154,000) grant given to Yesh Din in 2016.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Each project funded by the UK is in line with British Government policy. The money allocated to Yesh Din supported our objective of preserving the viability of a two-state solution.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports of renewed construction of tunnels into Israel by Hamas; and of the impact of those tunnels on progress towards a two-state solution.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We remain deeply concerned by Hamas attempts to rearm and rebuild militant infrastructure, including the tunnel network in Gaza. Hamas rearmament undermines efforts to improve the situation in Gaza and harms the prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 10 March (HL6654), what projects are delivered by Burj Al Luqluq Youth Centre and Silwan Youth Centre that are funded through the Bilateral Programme Budget.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Bilateral Programme Budget funded two projects run by the Burj Al Luqluq and Silwan Youth Centres, both of which were completed in March 2016.
The Burj Al Luqluq project built the capacity of Palestinian youth in East Jerusalem to become positive and active leaders in their communities. The project worked with 50 participants, male and female, who received training in communication, leadership and photography skills. They developed their employability and strengthened their national and cultural identities.
The Silwan project provided Information technology and other equipment to create a safe environment for children and adults to conduct homework and research.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are aware of the work of Save a Child's Heart in Holon, Israel, and whether they have any plans to support Save a Child's Heart in Israel in particular by providing it with financial assistance.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Our Embassy in Tel Aviv is aware of the work of Save a Child’s Heart. They do not currently have plans to provide financial assistance to this charity but have provided funding in the past, and hosted an event for the charity at the Ambassador's Residence.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what financial assistance they provide to charities and NGOs in Israel.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We currently supply funding for projects delivered by twelve non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (including East Jerusalem); ten through the Conflict Stability and Security Fund and two through the Bilateral Programme Budget. The following ten Israeli NGOs deliver projects through the Conflict Stability and Security Fund: The Peres Centre for Peace; Injaz - Centre for Professional Arab Local Governance; Kids Creating Peace; Yesh Din; Gisha; Peace Now; Terrestrial Jerusalem; The International Peace and Cooperation Centre; Rabbis for Human Rights; and the Jerusalem Community Advocacy Network. We also fund projects delivered by the following NGOs through the Bilateral Programme Budget: Burj Al Luqluq Youth Centre and Silwan Youth Centre.Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent representations they have made to the Palestinian Authority over reports that it has provided millions in monthly salaries to convicted Palestinian terrorists serving sentences in Israeli jails.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK regularly raises the issue of prisoner payments with the Palestinian Authority (PA). The Minister of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for New Forest West (Mr Swayne) raised the matter with PA Finance Minister Bishara during his visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories in August 2014. No UK money is used for payments to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, or their families. The UK’s direct financial assistance to the PA is used to pay the salaries of public sector workers only.Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health following its description of Nashat Milhem as "one of the dearest Martyrs, and his name is engraved with his pure blood, which watered the ground of our free land".
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have not raised this specific issue with the Palestinian Authority. Since the start of the current violence we have spoken regularly to both the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority, urging them to use their influence to de-escalate the tensions. We continue to support the reinstatement of the Tripartite Committee as the appropriate channel to deal with allegations of incitement from either side.