Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much money they estimate could be saved from the aid budget during the next five years by making Israel bear the costs of occupation and reconstruction in Gaza and the West Bank.

It is not possible to calculate the full costs of the Occupation to any degree of accuracy and determine how these are currently offset through the provision of international aid, including from the UK. What we do know is that Israeli restrictions do considerable damage to the Palestinian economy, are one of the main impediments to economic growth, and contribute to a reliance on international aid. DFID is providing £349 million in support of Palestinian development between 2011 and 2015. Decisions on funding for the next five years will be made at the next spending review.