Question by Baroness Janke (Lib Dem) on 24th January 2022 (HL5626)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to protect Palestinians in territories occupied by Israel from damage to olive groves and crops by Israeli settlers.
Answer from Lord Ahmad (Conservative) on 7th February 2022
We understand the particular significance of olive trees given their status as a national symbol and the sole source of income for many Palestinian farmers. We have repeatedly raised the issue of incidents of settler violence, including the destruction of olive trees, with the Israeli authorities.
Question from Baroness Janke on November 2nd 2021 (HL3639)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about Palestinians being prevented from harvesting their olive crops in occupied territory by (1) Israeli forces, and (2) Israeli settlers.
Answer from Lord Ahmad on 15th November 2021
We are aware of the particular significance of olive trees given their status as a national symbol and the sole source of income for many Palestinian farmers. We have repeatedly raised the issue of incidents of settler violence, including the destruction of olive trees, with the Israeli authorities. We continue to urge them to investigate thoroughly every instance to bring those responsible to justice and of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.
Question by Baroness Tonge (Independent) on 18th January 2021 (HL12260)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the statistics compiled by the Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Camping coalition which suggest that over 8,400 olive trees have been uprooted or burned by the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli settlers in the West Bank in 2020.
Answer from Lord Ahmad (Conservative) on 1st February
We are aware of the difficulties facing Palestinian olive growers. Attacks on olive groves are particularly painful to Palestinians given their status as a national symbol and the sole source of income for many Palestinian farmers. We have expressed our concerns to the Government of Israel and security officials about the destruction of olive trees and the prevention of access to them on a number of occasions. The UK condemns any incidence of violence by settlers against Palestinians. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population. We urge them to thoroughly investigate every instance and bring those responsible to justice.
Question by Baroness Tonge (Independent) on 20th October 2020 (HL9384)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take, if any, to protect olive groves and farmland in Palestine from damage by Israeli settlers.
Answer from Lord Ahmad (Conservative) on 3rd November 2020
The UK condemns any incidence of violence by settlers against Palestinians. We recognise that there can be an increase in assaults on Palestinian farmers, the destruction of olive trees and the stealing of produce coinciding with the Palestinian olive harvest, which began earlier this month. We have expressed our concerns to the Israeli Government on a number of occasions. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population. We welcome the efforts of Israeli authorities to address settler violence, and urge them to thoroughly investigate every instance and bring those responsible to justice.
Question by Baroness Tonge (Independent) on 14th September 2020
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they plan to make to the government of Israel about the uprooting of olive trees for the construction of a settler-only road in Ras Karkarby by that government.
Answer from Lard Ahmad (Conservative) on 22nd September 2020
We are troubled by reports of the destruction of olive trees and we have expressed our concerns to the Israeli Government on a number of occasions. We continue to oppose settlement expansion in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Question by Baroness Tonge (Independent) on 23rd June 2020 (HL6099)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about reports that (1) crops have been burnt by Israeli settlers, and (2) that Israeli soldiers prevented Palestinians putting out the fire. (HL6099)
Answer from Lord Ahmad (Conservative) on 6th July 2020
We have not made an assessment of these reports. We continue to raise with Israeli counterparts our concerns about settler violence and have also stressed the importance of the Israel security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population
Question by Baroness Tonge (Independent) (HL5816)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that Palestinian-owned property in Al-Walaja is under threat of demolition to make way for construction of a park exclusively for Israelis; and what support, if any, are they giving to the owners of any such property.
Answer from Lord Ahmad (Conservative) on 30th June 2020
Our legal aid supports residents in Al-Walaja and officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv and Consulate-General in Jerusalem visited the area on 17 June. As we made clear at the UN Security Council remote meeting on the Middle East Peace Process on 20 May, the UK is seriously concerned by the continued demolition of Palestinian property by Israeli authorities. In all but the most exceptional of circumstances demolitions by an occupying power are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. The practice causes unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and is harmful to the peace process. We urge both sides to avoid taking actions which make peace more difficult to achieve.