Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many times he has held discussions with his counterparts in (a) Israel and (b) Palestine in 2023.

The Foreign Secretary has spoken with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen four times this year, one of which was in person, three of which were phone calls. With regards to the Palestinian Authority, this year the Foreign Secretary has had one phone call with Foreign Minister Riad Malki, and two phone calls with Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. The Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, also met with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad Malki, and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) in January 2023. Lord Ahmad has also had several meetings this year with Palestinian head of mission Dr Husam Zomlot and Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely in London. Finally, FCDO diplomats and development experts in the UK, Israel and the OPTs meet regularly with both Israeli and Palestinian officials to discuss UK foreign and development policy issues.