Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Answer of 18 July 2017 to Question 3942 on Israel: Palestinians, what initiatives have the £3 million been allocated to help Israelis and Palestinians to work together.

Our People to People programme aimed to bring together Israelis and Palestinians to cooperate on issues that can have a positive impact on both communities, helping to build understanding between people on both sides of the conflict in support of a peaceful, negotiated resolution.

Our £3 million three-year (2017-2020) programme facilitated interaction between youth leaders, religious communities and within the health sector. It:

• helped tackle a neglected tropical disease (Leishmaniasis) through cooperation between health academics and senior health workers for the wellbeing of both populations.
• facilitated discussion and activity between young people on reducing interreligious tensions around holy sites.
• brought together young leaders from different professional, political and religious backgrounds to identify future areas for co-operation.