Jerusalem: Orthodox Church

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office written question – answered at on 24 June 2026.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Cat Smith Cat Smith Chair, Procedure Committee, Chair, Procedure Committee

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of reports concerning the seizure of land owned by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Silwan, Jerusalem, on 15 June 2026.

Photo of Cat Smith Cat Smith Chair, Procedure Committee, Chair, Procedure Committee

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether officials have raised with the Government of Israel reports concerning restrictions on access to land owned by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Silwan, Jerusalem.

Photo of Hamish Falconer Hamish Falconer Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is monitoring the situation in Silwan closely, including the reported seizure of land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church. The UK is committed to championing freedom of religion or belief for all, and that is particularly important in a city which holds such significance for the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. It is vital that the historic holy sites where each religious community worships are treated with respect and dignity, and that the traditional arrangements enabling each group to practice their faith are upheld, including the Jerusalem Status Quo.

More generally, we know that the demolition of Palestinian property and the eviction of their residents by Israeli authorities is causing unnecessary suffering to communities throughout Palestine. We also condemn the seizure of land by extremist settler groups and their acts of brutal violence, and - as set out by the Foreign Secretary in her statement to the House on 9 June - the UK will continue to do everything possible to advance the two-state solution and hold violent extremist settler groups to account, including through our sanctions regime.

Does this answer the above question?

Yes0 people think so

No0 people think not

Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.

Secretary of State

Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.