Asked by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Israeli Government on US policy on the construction of settlements in the Palestinian territories since the US President's meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister on 15 February 2017.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
While we have not discussed US settlements policy with the Israeli authorities, we welcome President Trump's interest in working for a peace deal that meets the requirements of both parties. The UK's view remains that the two-state solution is the best option to achieve that. We continue to believe settlements are one of a number of significant barriers to achieving a two-state solution and regularly raise our concerns about settlement activity with the Israeli authorities.
Asked by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had on the matter of self-determination for Azad Kashmir with his counterparts in the Government of (a) India and (b) Pakistan.
Answered by Lord Sharma
I have not discussed this matter with either the Government of India or Pakistan. The longstanding position of the United Kingdom is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation in Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the United Kingdom to prescribe a solution or to act as a mediator. We encourage both sides to maintain positive dialogue, but the pace and scope of this is for them to determine.