Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Israel regarding the forced transfer of Palestinians from Jabal al-Baba, Ein al-Hilweh and Umal Jmal.

The UK is gravely concerned by Israeli proposals to relocate the Bedouin population from the E1 area. The UN has said that this could constitute forcible transfer.

We have been clear about our concerns with the Israeli authorities and we regularly raise the matter through our Embassy in Tel Aviv. These plans could have a devastating impact on the communities concerned and will likely open the way for further settlement expansion – endangering the viability of the two-state solution.

We follow developments closely. Staff from our Consulate General in Jerusalem visited Jabal al-Baba on 9 November, and both Ein al-Hilweh and Umm al-Jammal on 22 November. We also provide legal aid to the community at Jabal al-Baba through our support to the Norwegian Refugee Council.