§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What specific steps they are taking, in conjunction with the European Union and the United States, to prevent the construction of Israeli settlements at Har Homa. [HL3907]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanOur Ambassador in Tel Aviv has registered our disapproval with senior officials at the announcement by the Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing on 12 November to issue tenders for construction of 1,025 building plots at Har Homa. We will continue to monitor the situation closely. We regard settlement activity in the Occupied Territories and East Jerusalem as illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace. The US has also said it regards settlement activity as unhelpful to the peace process.