§ Mr. SarwarTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the building by Israel of the security wall; and what discussions he has had with the Israeli Government on the issue. [137118]
§ Mr. RammellWe recognise Israel's legitimate security concerns, and deplore the terrorist suicide bombings of Israeli civilians. We have urged the Palestinian Authority to do more to stop such bombings. But we believe that Israel's building of a wall, or fence, on occupied land is unlawful. We have repeatedly urged the Government of Israel to reconsider the route of the fence. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have raised this issue on a number of occasions with the Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean also raised the matter with the Israeli Foreign Minster, Silvan Shalom, during her visit to Israel on 30 September. She also raised with Zvi Shtauber, Israeli Ambassador on 22 October and Yosef Paritzky, the Israeli Minister for National Infrastructure on 29 October.
We have made representations through our Embassy in Tel Aviv expressing concern at the route and likely impact of the fence. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have also made representations through the Israeli Embassy in London, most recently on 5 November.
§ Mr. BestTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli Government about the building of the wall. [137524]
§ Mr. RammellMy right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary made clear our concerns about the route of the wall, or fence, to the Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister on a number of occasions. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean also raised the matter with the Israeli Foreign Minster, Silvan Shalom, during her visit to Israel on 30 September. She also raised with Zvi Shtauber, Israeli Ambassador on 22 October and Yosef Paritzky, the Israeli Minister for National Infrastructure on 29 October.
We have made representations through our Embassy in Tel Aviv expressing concern at the route and likely impact of the fence. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have also made representations through the Israeli Embassy in London, most recently on 5 November.