The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-03-21.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Palestinian Authority regarding reported Palestinian General Intelligence Service raids on female students’ houses in Hebron at night.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Officials from our Consulate-General raised this issue with the Palestinian Authority on 23 March.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-04-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how closely they monitor the weekly UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs statistics of death, injuries and house demolitions in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, and what conclusions they have drawn from those statistics.
Baroness Verma
We follow all briefings and updates from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs closely, and are greatly concerned with the deteriorating humanitarian situation across the occupied Palestinian territories. We raise these concerns regularly with the Government of Israel and development partners, and continue to call for the lifting of movement and access restrictions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-05-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 18 April (HL7720), what representations they now intend to make to the government of Israel to ensure an adequate power supply to Gaza.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We regularly raise Gaza’s energy needs, which are essential to permit recovery and allow the economy to grow, with the Israeli authorities. A long-term strategy for gas provision needs to be established. In the interim, we are focussing on provision of diesel to run the Gazan power plant, and expanded electricity provision from medium-voltage feeder lines into Gaza from Israel.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-05-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, and if so when, they intend to instigate an independent inquiry into Islamophobia in politics at all levels.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
Everyone in Britain has the right to feel safe and at ease in the place where they live. There is no place for hatred against people because of their race, gender, ethnic origin, faith, sexual orientation, age or disability. This includes anti-Muslim attacks which are unacceptable in Britain.
The Government is already taking a number of steps to counter Islamaphobia and does not intend to carry out an independent inquiry. We fund Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks) to encourage reporting of these crimes and to support victims. We have also set up the first cross Government Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group to raise awareness of Islamaphobic attacks. In addition, the police began to disaggregate hate crime by religion in April 2016. This will help the police to build community trust, target their resources and enable the public to hold them to account.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-06-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to support Gaza and Gazan refugees in the light of warnings from the UN that Gaza will be uninhabitable by 2020.
Baroness Verma
As part of its Bilateral Aid Review, DFID is in the process of agreeing future multi-year support for Palestinian development, which will include support for Gaza. This will include access for reconstruction materials, basic service delivery, support to the private sector and assistance for the most vulnerable.
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 about reports of its intention to reduce the budget for Arab teacher training colleges in Northern Israel to half that of the budget allocated to Jewish teacher training colleges.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The British Embassy in Tel Aviv regularly raises the need for equal treatment of all of Israel’s citizens with the Israeli government. Although we have not raised this particular issue, we recognise the importance of equality regarding teacher training, access to education and the role of education in building understanding between communities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they plan to make to the government of Israel concerning reports that on 29 August Israeli forces at Salaymeh checkpoint in Hebron fired tear gas at school-children attempting to make their way home.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
While we have not made specific representations on this issue, we have repeatedly raised our concerns with the Israeli authorities about the Israel Defence Forces’ use of force.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-10-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are planning to revise the visa system for Palestinians living in East Jerusalem and Ramallah which prevents them from applying for a visa at a Visa Application Centre other than the one closest to where they live.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
There are no plans to change the visa system for Palestinians living in East Jerusalem or Ramallah.
As set out in the Immigration Rules, applications for a visit visa or EEA family permit can be made in any visa application centre, British diplomatic mission or consular post overseas where entry clearance applications are accepted. Applications for other types of entry clearance should be made in the applicant’s country of residence. Where there is no post in the country of residence, applications should be made to the designated application post.
There are three Visa Application Centres in the Occupied Palestinian Territories designated by the Secretary of State to accept visas applications. These are the Visa Application Centre at the American Colony Hotel in Jerusalem, the British Information and Services Office in Gaza City, and the British Council office in Ramallah. Applicants choose the location for their appointment to submit their application at the end of the online application process.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-11-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel following reports that Palestinian families living in the Humsa al Buqai’a herding community have been displaced to allow Israeli military training to be conducted.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have not made any representations on this issue to the Israeli authorities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-12-07.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding its intention to close the Palestinian theatre in Jerusalem.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have not raised this issue with the Israeli authorities.