§ 18. John RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage(a) the Israeli Government to dismantle settlements in the Occupied Territories and(b) the Palestinian Authority to prevent further suicide attacks in Israel. [150704]
§ Mr. RammellThe Government regularly presses the Israeli Government to freeze settlement activity and dismantle outposts in line with Israel's commitments under the Roadmap.
We also reiterate at every opportunity the need for the Palestinian Authority to take visible steps to degrade terrorist capabilities. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean did so in the Occupied Territories on 21–23 January.
§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the information bulletin being issued to foreign nationals arriving in Israel which informs them that they now require written prior authorisation from the Israeli Government to visit territories under the control of the Palestinian Authority and that failure to obtain such authorisation many result in legal action being taken against them by Israel. [149886]
§ Mr. RammellWe are aware of the information bulletin, which has been issued to foreign nationals arriving in Israel, and are seriously concerned at the possible impact of such restrictions on media, humanitarian organisations, and civil society groups operating in the Occupied Territories. We have raised our concerns with the Israeli Government, and are exploring with our EU partners further avenues for doing so.
As Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice makes clear, we still advise against travel to the West Bank and Gaza, along Israel's border with Lebanon, and close to the Israeli side of the Israel/Gaza border.
§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms the Israeli Government used to consult the United Kingdom before issuing warnings to British citizens and other foreign nationals arriving in Israel that entry to territories 287W under the control of the Palestinian Authority is now forbidden without written prior authorisation from the Israeli Government and stating that entry to those territories without such written authorisation may result in legal action being taken; and what representations he is making to Israel on the issue. [149935]
§ Mr. RammellThe Israeli Government did not consult directly with the United Kingdom about the entry changes referred to in warnings to foreign nationals arriving in Israel. We have raised our concerns with the Israeli Government, about the possible impact of such restrictions on media, humanitarian organisations, and civil society groups operating in the Occupied Territories, and are exploring with our EU partners further avenues for doing so.
§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there are alternative entry points to those controlled by the Israeli military for British passport holders visiting territories under the administration of the Palestinian Authority; and what assessment he has made of the implications for the freedom of movement of British passport holders of the introduction by Israel of regulations forbidding foreign nationals entry to Palestinian territories without written prior authorisation from the Israeli Government and stating that entry to those territories without such written authorisation may result in legal action being taken. [149940]
§ Mr. RammellThere are no alternative entry points to the Occupied Territories to those covered by the new regulations. We have raised our concerns with the Israeli Government about the possible impact of such restrictions on media, humanitarian organisations, and civil society groups operating in the Occupied Territories, and are exploring with our EU partners further avenues for doing so.
§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he plans to have with his EU counterparts about the introduction by Israel of regulations forbidding foreign nationals entry to territories under the control of the Palestinian Authority without written prior authorisation from the Israeli Government. [150132]
§ Mr. RammellThe Government have raised the issue of changes to entry regulations for the Occupied Territories with fellow EU members. They share our concerns about the possible impact of such restrictions on media, humanitarian organisations, and civil society groups operating in the area. We have raised our concerns with the Israeli Government and are exploring with our EU partners further avenues for doing so.