§ Sir Menzies CampbellTo ask the Prime Minister whether it is his policy that Israel should cease building settlements and the security wall on Palestinian territory unconditionally; and if he will make a statement. [155284]
§ The Prime MinisterAs we have made clear, we consider all settlements in the Occupied Territories illegal under international law and an obstacle to a comprehensive peace in the region. The Government regularly presses the Israeli Government to freeze settlement activity and dismantle outposts in line with Israel's commitments under the roadmap.
We condemn unequivocally the suicide bombing of Israeli civilians and we understand Israel's need to take steps, within international law, to protect itself from terrorist attack. But we have made clear that we regard the wall Israel is building on occupied Palestinian land as unlawful.
§ Sir Menzies CampbellTo ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the principal barriers to peace in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement. [155285]
§ The Prime MinisterThe path towards a renewed political process is through the Quartet (US, UN, EU and Russia) roadmap. Both the Palestinian and the Israeli Governments should implement their roadmap commitments without delay.
77WThe Palestinian leadership should renew its determination to tackle violence and dismantle terrorist capabilities and make further progress on Palestinian Authority reform. Israel should remove settlement outposts erected since March 2001, freeze all settlement activity and reroute the fence away from Palestinian land. Israel should also seek to improve the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Territories.