§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what information he has on the consequences of the Israeli blockade on the occupied territories; and what representations he has made on this matter to the Israeli authorities in respect of its effect on the peace process;
(2) what assessment he has made of the effects of the Israeli decision to recruit foreign workers to replace Palestinians on the peace process; and what representations he has made.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe, along with our European Union partners, have made known to the Israeli authorities our concern at the damaging economic and social effects of their closure of the occupied territories. The Israeli Cabinet announced on 17 April the granting of 20,000 permits for Palestinians to enter Israel, 16,000 for humanitarian purposes and 4,000 for agricultural workers, and the grant of 30 million shekels for work projects in the occupied territories.