Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the lifting of sanctions on Israeli settlers by the US government.

We are deeply concerned by recent events in the West Bank. The Foreign Secretary has been clear with Israeli Ministers that the Israeli government must clamp down on settler violence and end settlement expansion. Sanctions are an important tool the UK, our allies and the wider international community can use to respond. Our carefully deployed sanctions are designed to address malign activity and demonstrate the UK's commitment to fundamental human rights. We will continue to work together with the new US administration to ensure regional security and stability, including ensuring lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.