Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial assistance he has provided to Chairman Arafat in seeking to control the violence in the Palestinian Authority. [155756]
§ Clare ShortI have been asked to reply.
We do not provide any assistance to Chairman Arafat in order to control the violence in the Palestinian Authority.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to Chairman Arafat regarding action by the Palestinian Authority against Force 17. [155620]
§ Mr. WilsonThe British Government continue to urge both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to take immediate parallel steps to address the current crisis. We expect both parties to insist on restraint and disciplined behaviour by their military and security personnel and to restrain activities by extremists.
Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the percentage of Palestinians in the(a) West bank and (b) Gaza strip living under the auspices of the Palestinian Authority. [155757]
§ Mr. WilsonAreas of the Occupied Territories for which the Palestinian Authority has civil powers and responsibilities (c. 40 per cent. of the West bank and c. 70 per cent. of the Gaza strip) encompass approximately 95 per cent. of Palestinians in the West bank and all Palestinians in the Gaza strip. These figures do not take account of the Palestinian population of East Jerusalem which also remains under Israeli military occupation (c.210,000—according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics 1997 census).