Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs written question – answered at on 7 March 2005.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(1) what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning (a) the planned construction of a new settlement, Gvast Wan Bethlehem, (b) the new settlement on Jayyous Village land in Qalqilya and (c) the planned expansion of the Alfei Menashe settlement in Qalqilya;
(2) what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning the expansion of (a) the Betan Unit settlement and (b) the Hat Homa settlement in Bethlehem district;
(3) whether he plans to take action against the Israeli Government following their refusal to abide by the International Court of Justice ruling on the separation barrier.
We have made frequent representations to the Israeli Government expressing our concern over continued settlement activity and the routing of the separation barrier. While Israel has a legitimate right to defend itself against terrorist attacks, we consider construction of the barrier on occupied land to be unlawful and we note that this was also the conclusion of the International Court of Justice in its Advisory Opinion. We have also made clear our view that settlements are illegal under international law. The Roadmap requires that Israel freeze all settlement expansion and dismantle outposts erected since March 2001.
The barrier and settlements were raised most recently by my right hon. Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean during her meeting with the Israeli ambassador on
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No0 people think not
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