Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

West Bank: Illegal Settlements

Tuesday 3 March 2026 · 7 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 7 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK strongly condemns the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
  • Increase in settlements has been accompanied by a concerning rise in settler violence.
  • Government considering concrete steps in accordance with international law to counter expansion.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Caroline Voaden Lib Dem South Devon
Foreign Affairs
Context

The expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the west bank threatens peace and stability, undermining the two-state solution.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential implications for policies due to the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the west bank?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

The UK strongly condemns the expansion of illegal settlements and the recent Israeli Security Cabinet decisions that introduced sweeping extensions to their control of the west bank. These actions threaten peace and stability and undermine the 20-point plan. They risk making a two-state solution impossible to achieve.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitments or actions were given.

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Q2 Andy McDonald Lab Middlesbrough and Thornaby East
Foreign Affairs
Context

Since December 2015, 19 new settlements have been approved, bringing the coalition's total to 68 in three years and around 210 overall, housing 750,000 settlers.

Question

Since December 2015, 19 new settlements have been approved, bringing the coalition's total to 68 in three years and around 210 overall, housing 750,000 settlers. Last month, the Israeli Cabinet approved measures to designate large areas as state property and resume land registration in area C—de jure annexation. Given the scale of sanctions that the UK is willing to impose on Russia, when will the Government impose meaningful trade measures, arms controls and sanctions that match the scale of Israel's illegal actions?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

My hon. Friend is right in his characterisation of the increase in settlements. That increase has been accompanied by a very concerning increase in settler violence. We will consider concrete steps in accordance with international law to counter the expansion.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitments or actions were given.

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Q3 Caroline Voaden Lib Dem South Devon
Foreign Affairs
Context

Last year, the Israeli Government issued nearly 10,000 units of settlement housing tenders, which was more than the combined total of tenders over the previous six years.

Question

Last year, the Israeli Government issued nearly 10,000 units of settlement housing tenders, which was more than the combined total of tenders over the previous six years. The Minister said that he condemns the expansion and is considering actions to take, but will he do the right thing now and introduce a full ban on all trade with illegal settlements in the west bank, to show that this Government are truly committed to pursuing a two-state solution?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

The Government are truly committed to pursuing a two-state solution; it has been at the heart of our policy in relation to Israel and Palestine for the entire duration of our time in government. I have stood at this Dispatch Box and announced three waves of sanctions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitments or actions were given.

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Q4 Emily Thornberry Lab Islington South and Finsbury
Foreign Affairs
Context

The concern now is that Israel may be about to annex the west bank.

Question

The British Government recognised Palestine last summer, and the concern now is that Israel may be about to annex the west bank. If Israel does that, where is Palestine? What are the concrete steps that the Government are considering to prevent this?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

I thank my right hon. Friend for that important question; I know she is extremely focused, rightly, on the deterioration of the situation in the west bank. We oppose the threat of annexation and we have taken action, including the three rounds of sanctions that I described, and we will continue to take action while the situation continues to deteriorate.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitments or actions were given.

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Q5 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Foreign Affairs
Context

What estimate has been made of the time that we have before a separate Palestinian state becomes, geographically and economically, utterly untenable?

Question

The Minister is absolutely right: Israel must stop. What estimate has he made of the time that we have before a separate Palestinian state becomes, geographically and economically, utterly untenable?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

I thank the right hon. Member and my predecessor for that important question. We have pointed to a whole range of areas of concern in relation to the viability of a Palestinian state. One that has not received mention so far in our exchanges, but which is vital, is the E1 development. The British Government are deeply concerned by the speed with which the Israeli Government are proceeding with a project that we completely oppose.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific estimate was provided.

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Q6 Sarah Champion Lab Rotherham
Foreign Affairs
Context

The UK Government continue to avoid responding to the International Court of Justice's 2024 advisory opinion condemning Israelis' forcible transfer of Palestinians—a war crime.

Question

The rapid growth in Israeli settlements in recent months has been fuelled by settler violence, which not only goes unpunished, but receives tacit support from the Israeli Government. The UK Government continue to avoid responding to the International Court of Justice's 2024 advisory opinion condemning Israelis' forcible transfer of Palestinians—a war crime. Does the Minister agree with his analysis?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

As ever, I thank my hon. Friend for her important questions. I wish to clarify quickly. The British Government oppose forced displacement in Palestine, and that is our long-held position. While we are due to update Parliament on the wider issues posed by the ICJ advisory opinion, I would not wish for there to be any ambiguity about our position.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitments or actions were given.

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Q7 Ellie Chowns Green North Herefordshire
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Minister says that he is concerned by the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and the expansion of settler violence, and he says that he is considering concrete steps.

Question

The Minister says that he is concerned by the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and the expansion of settler violence, and he says that he is considering concrete steps. He refers to previous actions, but it is now many months since the last concrete action by this Government. Actions speak louder than words. It is now way past time to end all settlement trade and impose new sanctions on those responsible for this violence.

Answer from Hamish Falconer

We have taken a range of steps and we continue to take steps, including raising those issues both with our partners and directly with the Israeli Government.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitments or actions were given.

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