Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the government of Israel intends to demolish the Palestinian wholesale market in the centre of Hebron in order to build housing to accommodate Israeli settlers.

We are aware of the Israeli authorities’ instruction to advance planning procedures for a new settlement in Hebron. We understand that this does not signal the start of a formal planning process. However, if such plans were to advance this would be of grave concern given the sensitivities of the location. We are monitoring the situation closely.