Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they will make to the government of Israel regarding the recent break up by Israeli forces of a Palestinian Bar Association conference on Israel's home demolition policy in East Jerusalem.

Whilst we have not raised this specific issue, we regularly make clear our serious concerns about the situation in East Jerusalem to the Israeli authorities, both bilaterally and in co-operation with EU partners. We are strongly opposed to any attempts to change the facts on the ground in the East Jerusalem. These concerns include the evictions of Palestinians and demolition of Palestinian property; the construction of illegal Israeli settlements; removal of residency rights from Palestinians; possible unilateral changes to the municipal borders; and severe difficulties of access to Jerusalem for Palestinians from the West Bank or even for those residents of Jerusalem who live beyond the Separation Barrier.