Tag: Baroness Tonge

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-04-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning reports that a further 77,000 Jewish settlers are due to be relocated to illegal Israeli settlements around Ramallah.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We consistently express our opposition to illegal settlements. On 18 February, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), raised our concerns about settlements with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv regularly raises the UK’s strong opposition to illegal construction of settlements with the Israeli authorities, and raised these specific plans on 17 November 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-05-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding reports of gunfire by Israeli forces at farmers trying to access their land near the border east of Khan Younes.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

While we have not made any representations to the Israeli authorities on this specific issue, we have an ongoing dialogue with the Israeli authorities about the Israeli Defence Forces use of live fire.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-05-23.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding the destruction of crops and olive trees on Palestinian-owned agricultural lands near Nejehot settlement by Israeli forces.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We are aware of the difficulties facing Palestinian olive growers and of the particular sensitivities around olive trees given their status as a national symbol and the sole source of income for many Palestinian farmers. We have expressed our serious concerns to the Israeli Government and security officials about the destruction of olive trees on a number of occasions, whether by the Israeli authorities or extremist settlers. We hold the Israeli authorities responsible for enforcing the rule of law and providing the appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-06-13.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government who is responsible for follow-up health and welfare checks of newborn female babies whose mothers have been victims of female genital mutilation.

Lord Prior of Brampton

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is illegal, extremely harmful and it is child abuse. Girls born to mothers who have had FGM are offered the same range of newborn and infant health checks as offered to all families.

In addition to the routine newborn and infant health checks offered to all families as part of the Healthy Child Programme, professionals have safeguarding responsibilities meaning that if they have any concerns about FGM they should take appropriate safeguarding actions, including sharing this with key professionals within the child’s life as part of local safeguarding procedures. In addition, any concerns about potential risk of FGM must be recorded within the child’s Red Book.

A multi-agency approach is essential to protect girls from harm and as such, midwives, health visitors, general practitioners and school nurses amongst others are all responsible for the health and welfare of all children they see, irrespective of whether the mother has had FGM or not.

The document Female Genital Mutilation Risk and Safeguarding Guidance for professionals (Department of Health, May 2016) provides information for health professionals on the specific issues frequently encountered when dealing with FGM. A copy of this document is attached.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-07-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning reports of continuing and increasing collective punishment of Palestinian communities, including punitive demolitions of private homes in the West Bank and the withholding of tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We have serious concerns about the use of punitive demolitions by the Israeli authorities to destroy the homes of the families of Palestinian suspected terrorists. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have expressed concerns about this policy to a number of Israeli officials: we fear that rather than acting as a deterrent, it has the potential to increase tension. We believe that a stable, well functioning, and fiscally viable Palestinian Authority (PA) is an important contributor to stability, and that it is in Israel’s own interests to secure this stability. As part of this, it is important Israel carries out the regular monthly transfer of tax revenues it collects on behalf of the PA in line with its international obligations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-09-12.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take following reports from the UN envoy that, since the diplomatic Quartet called for a halt to the construction of Jewish outposts on Palestinian land, Israeli settlement expansion has increased.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We continue to raise our serious concerns over this issue with the Israeli Government at all levels. On 07 September, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood) emphasised our concerns about settlements with Israeli Defence Minister Lieberman during their meeting.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-10-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take in response to plans by the government of Israel to establish a new settlement deep in the West Bank.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We have raised our concerns over this issue with the Israeli authorities. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), issued a statement on 5 October condemning the announcement by Israel of plans to construct a new settlement near Shilo. The increased pace of settlement advancement, including moves to approve retroactively unauthorised settlement units and outposts, fundamentally calls into question Israel’s commitment to the two state solution.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-10-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel following the shooting of Maram Abudl-Latif al-Qaddoumi and her father in September.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

While our officials in Tel Aviv have not raised these specific cases with the Israeli authorities, we do regularly raise our concerns with them about the manner in which the Israel Defence Forces polices protests, including the use of lethal and non-lethal ammunition. Most recently, an official from our Embassy in Tel Aviv raised the issue of the live fire with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 22 October.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-10-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority concerning the disruption of the fuel supply to Gaza due to the closure of the crossing points during Jewish holidays.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

While the British Government has not raised this specific case with the Israeli government or the Palestinian Authority, we regularly urge both parties to intensify measures to support Gaza’s reconstruction and economic development, including on energy. On 10 September, during Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to the UK the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), emphasised the importance of improving daily life for the people of Gaza, for example through better power and water supplies and facilitating exports from Gaza.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-10-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding the need for road and rail links between Rafah, Hebron, Jerusalem, Nablus and Janin to serve Palestine.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

While the British Government has not raised this specific issue with the Government of Israel, our Embassy in Tel Aviv consistently urge relaxation of the Israeli movement and access restrictions across the Occupied Palestinian Territories and raise the need to improve conditions on the ground for Palestinians. Most recently, on 19 October, our Ambassador in Tel Aviv raised these concerns with Israeli Cabinet Secretary, Avichai Mandleblit.