APPENDIX 5
Memorandum submitted by the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office on the attack in the West Bank on the vehicle
carrying the British Consul General, Jerusalem
Thank you for your letter of 23 January about
the attack in the West Bank on the vehicle carrying the British
Consul General, Jerusalem.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has
now replied in writing to our protest about this incident. The
operative part of their note, setting out the findings of the
IDF's investigation into the incident, reads as follows:
"The investigation shows that an IDF road-block
was set up, due to a suspicious object in the area, and for that
reason no vehicles were allowed to proceed. The IDF acknowledges
that Israeli civilians surrounded the car and that a rock was
thrown at the rear window. The investigation, however, shows that
soldiers hurried to the car, two of whom used force in order to
disperse the civilians.
The Ministry wishes to express its deep regret
for what happened, and trusts that similar incidents will not
occur in the future."
The Israeli Ambassador in London has subsequently
associated himself with this expression of deep regret.
We remain concerned about the security of diplomats
and NGOs in the Occupied Territories. We shall continue to press
the Israelis to take firm action to prevent vigilante activity
by armed civilians. We will also continue to raise our concerns
about closures more generally, and the devastating effect these
are having on the Palestinian people and economy.
|
