Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Israeli Settlements: West Bank

Tuesday 1 April 2025 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Lewis Atkinson questioned the Israeli Government's approval of an expanded road network in the E1 corridor of the West Bank to support illegal settlements.
  • Kit Malthouse inquired about the effectiveness of cross-party condemnations of settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank over the past decades.
  • Dr Rosena Allin-Khan raised concerns about the recent increase in settler violence and the risk of a breach of international humanitarian law in Palestine.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Lewis Atkinson Lab Sunderland Central
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Israeli Government announced the approval of an expanded road network in the E1 corridor of the west bank to support the development of illegal Israeli settlements. The area is critical to the territorial integrity of a future Palestinian state.

Question

On Saturday night, the Israeli Government announced the approval of an expanded road network in the E1 corridor of the West Bank with the stated aim of supporting the development of illegal Israeli settlements in the area. That area is critical to the territorial integrity of a future Palestinian state. Previously, unified international pressure has restrained the Israeli Government, so can the Foreign Secretary say how the Government are working with their allies to exert maximum influence on Israel in this matter?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr David Lammy)

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his question. I condemn categorically the development of settlements that are illegal under international law. Settlements do not offer security to Israel or to Palestinians. I also condemn calls to annex the West Bank, which would lead only to violence and jeopardise prospects for a Palestinian state. I am clear with Israeli counterparts that settlement expansion must stop. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure prospects for a Palestinian state.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked specifically about working with allies to exert maximum influence, but the answer focused on condemning settlements without detailing specific diplomatic or economic actions taken by the UK and its partners.

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Q2 Kit Malthouse Con North West Hampshire
Foreign Affairs
Context

The speaker refers to the long-standing issue of increased settlements and settler violence in the West Bank, noting that previous condemnations have not made a difference. He asks for specific actions such as sanctions on violent settlers.

Question

We have heard Secretary of State after Secretary of State condemn the increase in settlements and settler violence in the West Bank over the last 30 or 40 years and it has made not the slightest bit of difference to their expansion. When will the Foreign Secretary accept that the only thing that the Israelis will respond to—we should not forget that these settlements are sponsored by the Israeli state—is action? When can we expect more sanctions, particularly on violent settlers and their organisations? When can we expect a full trade ban on settlement produce? In particular, will the Secretary of State consider proscribing those settler organisations that are perpetrating terrorism on an innocent Palestinian population?

Answer from David Lammy

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. It is important that there is a cross-party position, and successive Ministers of both political parties have condemned expansion and condemned violence. We continue to work with partners across Europe and beyond on these issues. I do not say that it is easy. He will know that I announced sanctions back in October, and we continue to keep these issues under review, but the culture of impunity for those engaged in violence is intolerable.

Partly answered

Not addressed: While acknowledging ongoing efforts and previously imposed sanctions, the response does not provide a clear timeline or additional commitments on more sanctions or trade bans as requested.

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Q3 Rosena Allin-Khan Lab Tooting
Foreign Affairs
Context

The speaker refers to recent violence in the West Bank, including deaths caused by settler violence, torture of Palestinians, and ongoing conflict in Gaza. She asks about evidence of international law violations.

Question

The scenes coming out of Palestine recently have been nothing short of shocking. Hundreds have been killed in settler violence in the West Bank, the brutal torture of Palestinians in Israeli custody is commonplace and the collapse of the ceasefire means that the devastation and human suffering in Gaza has simply continued. Will the Secretary of State confirm whether his Department has received any evidence showing that international law has been violated? Will he share such evidence and his assessment openly?

Answer from David Lammy

My hon. Friend is right to raise this issue. She will know that, in a sober and measured way, the Government had to make our own decision on the exports licensing regime, which was put in place by the last Government, and we assessed that there was a clear risk of a breach of international humanitarian law. Therefore, we have suspended arms that could be used in Gaza. That is a decision that Ministers have made from this Dispatch Box under different Governments.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response discusses the suspension of arms exports to Israel rather than addressing evidence of international law violations in the West Bank or sharing such information openly as requested.

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Q4 Will Forster Lib Dem Woking
Foreign Affairs
Context

The speaker describes a recent visit to the West Bank where he observed illegal violence by Israeli settlers. He asks for full sanctions and an embargo on all Israeli illegal settlements.

Question

Earlier this year, I visited the west bank with colleagues in the Chamber as part of a parliamentary delegation, where I saw the awful Israeli illegal violence in Hebron and Susya. We ran into two Israeli settlers who clearly wanted us off the area that they had burned down. Will the Foreign Secretary go further than he has in condemning that violence by agreeing to full sanctions and an embargo on all Israeli illegal settlements? Owing to the position of the City of London, that could have a profound impact and stop the violence.

Answer from David Lammy

I should make it clear that settlement goods do not benefit from any free trade arrangements that we have with Israel. Obviously, on 15 October, I announced new sanctions targeting three illegal settler outposts and four organisations that have supported the sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank.

Partly answered

Not addressed: While confirming no free trade benefits for settlement goods, the response does not provide a clear commitment to full sanctions or an embargo as requested.

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