Written questions, answers and statements

Jerusalem: Churches

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Question for Foreign and Commonwealth Office

UIN 198167, tabled on 3 December 2018

Question

Dr David Drew
Labour
Stroud
Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the (a) Israeli Government and (b) US Administration on the protection of Christian sites of worship in Jerusalem.

Answer

Alistair Burt
Conservative
North East Bedfordshire
Commons

Answered on

6 December 2018

The UK recognises that Jerusalem holds particular significance for many groups, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv and Consulate General in Jerusalem raise issues of religious freedom with the Israeli and Palestinian governments and are in contact with representatives of churches on a range of issues. We continue to encourage Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem to do all they can to work together to uphold the status quo at all the holy sites in Jerusalem. We have not discussed this issue with the US Administration.

Answered by

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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