I understand that this is a difficult and pressing situation and I recently met with Bath-Bethlehem Links, a Bath-based organisation that seeks to creative supportive links between Bath and Palestine, to discuss their concerns regarding a similar issue.
The UK has frequently raised Israel's obligations under International Humanitarian Law and international human rights law with the Israeli authorities, including the obligation of the occupying power to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The UK's position on the issue of settlements is clear: they are illegal under international law, an obstacle to peace and make a two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, harder to achieve. In the last parliament, Conservative Ministers consistently urged the Israeli authorities to cease all settlement building and to remove illegal outposts, as required under international law and in fulfilment of Israel's obligations under the Roadmap.
The international community must redouble its efforts to support a comprehensive peace agreement that delivers an independent Palestine alongside a safe and secure Israel. In the last parliament, the Government reiterated its commitment to recognise a Palestinian state at a time most helpful to the peace process, as a two-state solution brought about through negotiated agreement is the most effective way for Palestinian aspirations of statehood to be met on the ground.
The temporary ceasefire agreement in August 2014 included agreement from Israel to open more of its border crossings with Gaza to allow the easier flow of goods, including humanitarian aid and reconstruction equipment, into the coastal enclave. I hope the Government will continue to press the Government of Israel to lift restrictions and facilitate the entry of aid into Gaza.
The Government was clear in the last parliament, that it did not support calls to boycott trade with Israel; but it was also clear that it does not recognise the Occupied Territories, including the settlements, as being part of Israel. In 2009, the UK introduced voluntary guidelines to enable produce from Israeli settlements in the occupied territories to be specifically labelled as such. This was in order to enable consumers to make a more fully informed decision concerning the products they buy.
The EU-Israel Association Agreement provides a useful structure in which to discuss the EU's human rights concerns, and to work with Israel to address these. It is important that these discussions take place. The UK, alongside EU partners, regularly discusses its concerns with Israel in meetings at all levels, including regular political level meetings and through an informal human rights working group.
The UK maintains a rigorous and transparent arms export control system; all applications are assessed on a case by case basis, against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. The Criteria make clear the Government's commitment to assess the risk of exports being used for internal repression; to provoke or prolong armed conflicts; or aggravate existing tensions or conflict in the country of final destination. All countries, including Israel, have a legitimate right to self-defence, and the right to defend their citizens from attack.