To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the possible consequences for Israel and the Israeli settlers if the Israeli Civil Administration demolish the village of Susiya; and what information they have on any plans to rehouse the residents.
Answered on
29 July 2015
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), raised our concerns over settlements with the Israeli government on 16 July, during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. He made it clear to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that actions that diminish trust and make the prospect of peace more remote need to be avoided and that settlement announcements do real harm. The Government’s position is that all Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.
The Government is a strong supporter of the community in Susiya, including through regular visits to see the situation on the ground. Our Consul-General in Jerusalem visited Susiya, alongside the other EU Heads of Missions, most recently on 22 July, to make clear our serious concerns about the proposed demolition.
The Government has not received clear information on plans to re-house Susiya residents, although the community has raised specific concerns that they may be transferred away from their privately owned land, against their will.