Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding reports of the illegal destruction by Israeli settlers of olive trees owned by Palestinians, including those of Hani Fanun.

While we have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities, we note the particular sensitivities around olive trees given their status as a national symbol and the sole source of income for many Palestinian farmers. We have repeatedly raised with the Israeli authorities our concerns about incidents of settler violence (including the destruction of olive trees) and intimidation, including the importance of bringing the extremist settlers responsible to justice and of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.