Asked by: Richard Burden (Labour - Birmingham, Northfield)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2019 to Question 216933, Trade Agreements: Israel, on which borders are the (a) pre-existing agreements and (b) Continuity Agreement agreed in principle between the UK and Israel based.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The EU-Israel Trade Agreements apply to the State of Israel. The same position is being incorporated into the UK-Israel Agreement. The UK does not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), including the settlements, as part of the State of Israel. The OPTs are not covered by the current EU-Israel Trade Agreements, nor by the UK-Israel Agreement.
The EU-Palestinian Authority Interim Agreement applies to the territory of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The same position is being incorporated into the UK-Palestinian Authority Interim Agreement, which is due to be signed in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Richard Burden (Labour - Birmingham, Northfield)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will place in the Library a copy of the draft UK-Israel agreement that has been agreed in principle for trading arrangements after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The UK and Israel have a strong and important trading relationship. However, we do not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), including the settlements, as part of Israel. The OPTs are not covered by the current EU-Israel Association Agreement, nor by the Continuity Agreement agreed in principle between the UK and Israel.
We are also working to finalise the transition of the current EU Interim Association Agreement with the Palestinian Authority.
We have committed to informing Parliament as soon as agreements are signed with partner countries. The agreement will be laid in Parliament and we will be publishing a full report on trade agreements, once they are signed.
Asked by: Richard Burden (Labour - Birmingham, Northfield)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the new UK-Israel agreement-in-principle contains a territorial clause limiting its application to within Israel’s pre-June 1967 borders.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The UK and Israel have a strong and important trading relationship. However, we do not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), including the settlements, as part of Israel. The OPTs are not covered by the current EU-Israel Association Agreement, nor by the Continuity Agreement agreed in principle between the UK and Israel.
We are also working to finalise the transition of the current EU Interim Association Agreement with the Palestinian Authority.
We have committed to informing Parliament as soon as agreements are signed with partner countries. The agreement will be laid in Parliament and we will be publishing a full report on trade agreements, once they are signed.
Asked by: Richard Burden (Labour - Birmingham, Northfield)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the trade deal agreed in principle between the UK and Israel for trade after the UK leaves the EU announced on 23 January 2019 will continue to distinguish in relevant dealings between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The UK and Israel have a strong and important trading relationship. However, we do not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), including the settlements, as part of Israel. The OPTs are not covered by the current EU-Israel Association Agreement, nor by the Continuity Agreement agreed in principle between the UK and Israel.
We are also working to finalise the transition of the current EU Interim Association Agreement with the Palestinian Authority.
We have committed to informing Parliament as soon as agreements are signed with partner countries. The agreement will be laid in Parliament and we will be publishing a full report on trade agreements, once they are signed.
Asked by: Richard Burden (Labour - Birmingham, Northfield)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how his Department defines the territorial scope of pre-existing agreements between the UK and Israel.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The UK and Israel have a strong and important trading relationship. However, we do not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), including the settlements, as part of Israel. The OPTs are not covered by the current EU-Israel Association Agreement, nor by the Continuity Agreement agreed in principle between the UK and Israel.
We are also working to finalise the transition of the current EU Interim Association Agreement with the Palestinian Authority.
We have committed to informing Parliament as soon as agreements are signed with partner countries. The agreement will be laid in Parliament and we will be publishing a full report on trade agreements, once they are signed.
Asked by: Richard Burden (Labour - Birmingham, Northfield)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether he has made changes to the conditions for the use of arms to arms components sold to Israel in the last two years.
Answered by Graham Stuart
All export licence applications are considered on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, known as the Consolidated Criteria, based on the most up-to-date information and analysis available, including reports from NGOs and our overseas network.
The Consolidated Criteria provide a thorough risk assessment framework and require us to assess the impact of providing equipment and its capabilities.
We will not issue an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria.
Asked by: Richard Burden (Labour - Birmingham, Northfield)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether he has made changes to the conditions for the use of arms to arms components sold to Israel in the last two years.
Answered by Graham Stuart
All export licence applications are considered on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, known as the Consolidated Criteria, based on the most up-to-date information and analysis available, including reports from NGOs and our overseas network.
The Consolidated Criteria provide a thorough risk assessment framework and require us to assess the impact of providing equipment and its capabilities.
We will not issue an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria.