§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel regarding environmental damage in the occupied Palestinian territories following the pollution of water supplies, destruction of trees and laying waste of agricultural land. [121669]
§ Mr. RammellThe Government have made clear to the Government of Israel our concerns about the humanitarian and environmental impact of the damage to water sources and the destruction of Palestinian agricultural land and their fruit and olive trees that has been caused by Israeli actions, in particular the construction of the 'security fence' and settlement-related building activity. We deplore the destruction of Palestinian property and have called on the Israeli Government to cease such activity.
We have also urged the Israeli Government to avoid actions that restrict Palestinian access to water for irrigation and drinking. The UK provides development assistance to the Palestinians in the water and sanitation sector.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel regarding the building of the security wall and fence during Phase I of the Road Map for Peace. [121673]
§ Mr. RammellMy right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary conveyed his concerns about the construction of the "security fence" to the Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom, when he visited the UK on 15 May. We have also made representations through our embassy in Tel Aviv expressing concern at the route and likely impact of the security fence.
We fully understand Israel's need to take steps, in accordance with international law, to protect her citizens from terrorist attack, but we deplore the seizure of Palestinian land and isolation of villages resulting from the construction of sections of the fence within the west back. The quartet roadmap, while not taking an explicit view on the construction of the security fence, 311W calls on the Government of Israel to take no actions undermining trust, including the confiscation and/or demolition of Palestinian property.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel regarding the continuation of the settlements programme during Phase I of the Road Map for Peace. [121674]
§ Mr. RammellMy right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about settlements with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom, on his visit to the UK on 15 May. Foreign Office officials have made representations to the Israeli ambassador, most recently on 10 June, and our ambassador in Tel Aviv raised settlements in east Jerusalem with the Israeli Interior Minister, Avraham Poraz, on 1 April.
We fully support the roadmap's requirement that Israel should immediately freeze all settlement expansion, including "natural growth" and dismantle the outposts erected since March 2001, and welcome recent action by the Israeli authorities on the latter.