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Israel

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions when (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have condemned (i) suicide and (ii) other terrorist attacks in Israel; and if he will make a statement. [67934]

Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have publicly condemned terrorist attacks in Israel. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary recently did so following the bombing in Tel Aviv on 17 April.

Israel has suffered greatly in the face of terrorism. The tragic impact of suicide bombings is all too clear. Israel is entitled to take steps to ensure its security and safeguard itself against terrorism. But it must act in accordance with international law. We continue to urge the Palestinian Authority to take steps to control Palestinian terrorist groups and to improve security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Recent statements on the Middle East Peace Process can be found on the Middle East Peace Process pages of the FCO website at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029394617.

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with Arab states about suicide bombings in Israel; what response he has received; and if he will make a statement. [67935]

 
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Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have raised this issue in our discussions with Arab states. Most recently my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the suicide bombing in Tel Aviv on 17 April in a meeting with the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al Faisal, during his visit to Saudi Arabia on 18 April.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I will continue to work with Arab states and the parties towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on a two state solution with Israeli and Palestinian states living side by side in peace and security.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received regarding the acquisition of land by Israel for further illegal settlement building close to Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem; and what representations he is making on the subject. [68056]

Dr. Howells: In February 2006, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that the Israel Defence Force (IDF) requisitioned 702.6 dunums (70.3 hectares) of Palestinian land throughout the west bank in February 2006. We understand land was requisitioned by the IDF in Bethlehem for military requirements", including new observation towers and the expansion of military bases and road construction. Land levelling also occurred for the expansion of existing and the establishment of new IDF infrastructure as well as around Israeli settlements".

We remain concerned about the current route of the barrier around Bethlehem. Israel has a right to protect its citizens from terrorist attack, but the routing of the barrier on occupied territory is contrary to international law. We have made clear our concerns on the routing of the barrier beyond the Green Line to the Israeli Government at all levels and will continue to do so. On 23 March, our defence attache" in Tel Aviv raised the crossing points at Bethlehem with the Israeli authorities.

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what phase of the performance-based Roadmap to a permanent two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had been attained before the January 2006 Palestinian legislative elections; and if he will make a statement. [65724]

Mr. Straw: Progress has been made on some aspects of the Roadmap by both parties, but neither the Israelis or the Palestinians have implemented their Roadmap commitments in full. In January 2006, full implementation of Phase I had yet to be achieved.

Both sides need to take steps to implement their Roadmap commitments. We will continue to work with both Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Government to achieve this.

Kurds

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to facilitate a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question; and if he will make a statement. [67175]

 
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Mr. Douglas Alexander: The Government welcomed the statement by the Turkish Prime Minister in August 2005 that Turkey needed to address the Kurdish issue under a banner of increasing democratisation". Our ambassador in Ankara has continued to convey to senior Turkish Ministers and officials, including in recent weeks, the need to follow up the statement with social and economic reforms in South-east Turkey. We also continue to press the Turkish authorities to ensure the full enjoyment of the cultural rights of all Turkish citizens.

Mauritania

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what elements the €81,000 contribution to a UN High Commissioner for Refugees project in Mauritania to improve Mauritanian capacity to manage migration will be spent; and how much will be spent on each element. [67845]

Dr. Howells: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' project aims to improve Mauritania's capacity to manage migration by strengthening the implementation of Mauritanian law on the residence of foreigners on Mauritanian territory, enhancing refugees' protection under law and promoting enjoyment of their rights.

The UK has offered to co-fund the project with the European Commission and would provide €81,000 towards the total. We would not seek to earmark our contribution. The Commission is still considering whether to approve funding for the project.

Ministerial Cars (Fuel Costs)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the fuel costs were for ministerial cars used by his Department in each of the last five years. [67122]

Mr. Straw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Transport (Dr. Ladyman) on 27 April 2006, Official Report, columns 1226–27W.

Nepal

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Nepal. [64633]

Dr. Howells: The security situation in Nepal has improved since the King announced, on 24 April 2006, that he was handing power back to the political parties and that he would reinstate Parliament. The parties responded by calling off their strikes and the Maoists have lifted their blockades and called a three month unilateral ceasefire.

The reinstated Parliament convened on 28 April 2006. The new Prime Minister, G P Koirala, was sworn in to office on 30 April and the Parliament agreed on a proposal to hold a constituent assembly and to reciprocate the Maoist ceasefire. There were no reports of violence or unrest surrounding these events. Since
 
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then, supplies of food and fuel are returning to near normal levels, shops and roads have opened and transport is moving.

Currently there is no reason to suppose that the security situation will deteriorate significantly or that the public mood will lead to further unrest. However, the political situation continues to move quickly and remains uncertain, and the security situation in Nepal could still change rapidly.

We assess that there is no direct threat to British interests. We have been monitoring the situation closely, with oversight from the Cabinet Office. We will continue to do so, including with our international partners.

Palestine

Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposed arms sales by the Russian military to Hamas; and if he will make a statement. [56110]

Mr. Straw: We understand that Russia has frozen the proposed arms sales.

Dr. Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on relations with the newly elected Palestinian Authority. [67160]

Dr. Howells: We recognise Hamas's democratic mandate as a result of free and fair elections. But democracy means more than winning elections. With this mandate comes responsibilities. We want to take the peace process forward with the Palestinian Authority and Israel but we can only do so if everyone is committed to democracy and a two-state solution, not violence. As I told the House, on 25 April 2006, Official Report, columns 491–94:

'We will continue to do all that we can to impress on Hamas—the newly elected Government of the Palestinian people—that it should recognise the right of the state of Israel to exist, that it should renounce violence, and that it should stick to previous agreements that form the basis of the road map which we consider to be the best and indeed, at the moment, the only way forward'.

We will continue to work with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to take the peace process forward.

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