Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the reported demolition of property in the al-Abbasiya area of Silwan and the arrest of the family to whom it belonged; and what assessment they have made of the impact of any such action on negotiations between the communities there.

We have raised the threat of demolitions in Silwan with the Israeli Minister of Interior and the Municipality of Jerusalem. Our Embassy made clear that we were concerned by the latest demolition orders issued in the Al-Abbasiya neighbourhood of Silwan. Demolitions cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; are harmful to the peace process; and, in all but the most limited circumstances, are contrary to International Humanitarian Law (IHL).