Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel about the force used against Coptic Christian monks who were peacefully demonstrating near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Whilst we have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities, we regularly encourage Israel to deploy security measures in a way which minimises tension and uses appropriate force. The UK supports the religious status quo in Jerusalem, and calls on all relevant parties to respect and uphold it.