Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will assess the potential effect of planned demolitions in the West Bank village of Susiya on (a) the welfare and rights of residents and (b) the human and economic development of Palestinian people living in Area C of the occupied West Bank.

I discussed the threat of forcible transfer with the Susiya Bedouin community during my visit there in August 2017.The Israeli authorities have stated their plan to imminently demolish around a third of structures in Susiya, including two clinics, which would stand to affect all residents. Demolitions of Palestinian homes and buildings cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians, are harmful to the peace process and, in most circumstances, are contrary to international humanitarian law. A clear, transparent route to construction for Palestinians in Area C is needed to prevent continued demolitions. According to the World Bank, the removal of the Israeli restrictions on Area C, including restrictions on construction, could result in the West Bank economy being 33% larger by 2025 than it would otherwise be. Officials have repeatedly raised our concerns about proposed demolitions in Susiya with Israeli ministers, including in a joint demarche with European partners on 2 November 2017.