§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
whether the occupying power has yet given permission for the reopening of the Palestinian University of Bir Zeit and, if not, whether they will make representations on the subject.
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (The Earl of Caithness)Israel has not yet given permission for Bir Zeit University to reopen; its closure order was extended on 30th August for a further three months. But, following regular representations from Her Majesty's Government and from the EC, the Israelis have now allowed five of the six universities in the Occupied Territories to reopen. We shall continue to make representations on Bir Zeit.