Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made on the decision by Egypt to suspend talks between Israel and the Palestinians in Cairo.

Ministers discussed the situation in Gaza and the talks between Israel and the Palestinians with Egyptian Foreign Minister Shukri during his visit to the UK on 27 October and stressed the importance we place on Egypt’s mediation role. Foreign Minister Shukri said that Egypt was still committed to the negotiation process and that talks would resume as soon as possible. We continue to discuss this issue with the Egyptian government.