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28 Feb 2008 : Column 1815W—continued
To collate information for earlier years would incur disproportionate cost.
Iran: Racial Discrimination
John Cummings:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Iranian Government on the persecution
of Jewish people in that country; and if he will make a statement. [188832]
Dr. Howells [holding answer 28 February 2008]: Judaism is one of the three minority religions officially recognised under the Iranian Constitution. While we do have general concerns about freedom of religion and belief in Iran, we understand that the Jewish community has relatively good relations with the wider Muslim community in Iran. The Iranian Jewish community does face some institutional discrimination, but we do not believe that the community faces systematic persecution. We continue to monitor the situation closely and officials in Tehran and London regularly meet representatives of the Jewish community to discuss the situation of Jewish people in Iran. In December 2007 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution about human rights in Iran. The resolution, which was co-sponsored by the UK and all other EU member states, acknowledged and expressed concern at the situation of religious and ethnic minorities in Iran. We will continue to make clear to the Iranian authorities that persecution of individuals on the grounds of their religious beliefs is unacceptable and contrary to Iran's international human rights obligations, and that the rights of Iran's religious minorities should be equal to those of all Iranian citizens.
Iraq: Weapons
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which individuals made which annotations on the hard copy of the John Williams draft of the 2002 Iraq dossier. [188515]
David Miliband [holding answer of 22 February 2008]: We do not know who authored the annotations, and hold no record on this.
Israel: Foreign Relations
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with (a) Ministers and (b) officials from other Government departments about British relations with Israel; and if he will make a statement. [189007]
Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discusses a wide range of foreign policy issues, including our relations with Israel, with representatives from other Government Departments in order to make progress on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s strategic objectives.
Israel: Overseas Residence
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens (a) visited and (b) emigrated to Israel in each year since 2000. [189006]
Dr. Howells: The Government do not hold the information requested by the hon. Member.
However, the best estimate of the Israeli Bureau of Statistics is that between 120,000 and 150,000 British citizens have visited Israel in each year since 2000.
The Jewish Immigration Agency in Israel has provided the following estimated figures for British citizens emigrating to Israel:
| Number | |
Israel: Politics and Government
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the policy of the Government to refuse to recognise Hamas as long as it retains its intent to destroy Israel; and if he will make a statement. [189008]
Dr. Howells: We continue to call upon Hamas to adhere to the Quartet’s principles: non-violence; recognition of Israel; and acceptance of previous agreements. These remain the conditions for a viable peace process. Dialogue with Hamas is impossible so long as it is committed to violence towards Israel. Both Palestinian President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert are committed to peaceful progress towards a two-state solution. We use our efforts to support them.
Kenya: EU Aid
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with his EU counterparts on EU aid to Kenya in light of the political unrest there; and if he will make a statement. [180801]
David Miliband [holding answer 28 February 2008]: I have had full discussions with my European counterparts about the EU's engagement with Kenya, including at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on 28 January and 18 February.
Until the country's political leaders agree to resolve the crisis, EU member states and the European Commission cannot conduct business as usual with Kenya. Failure to agree a sustainable and consensual political situation would affect our, and other EU donors' engagement with Kenya.
Libya: UN World Conference Against Racism
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to Libya on the preparatory meetings of the 2009 UN World Conference Against Racism taking place on Jewish holidays. [188752]
Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made no representations to the Libyan chair of the Durban Review Conference preparatory committee.
The Government agree that the timing of the preparatory committee is unfortunate, given that it coincides with important Jewish holidays.
The Preparatory Committee Bureau decided the dates from a small number of available slots suggested by UN officials. The UK does not sit on the bureau. Colleagues from other member states that sit on the bureau assured us that there was no malicious intent when selecting these dates.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with the (i) Government of Israel and (ii) Arab states on rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza; and if he will make a statement. [188993]
Dr. Howells: The UK is deeply concerned by rocket attacks against Israeli citizens from Gaza. Since Hamas seized control of Gaza, over 2,400 mortars and rockets have been fired into Israel. The launching of rockets against Israeli civilian targets and all forms of violence must stop. Violence serves only to undermine the prospects for peace in the region.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular discussions on the security situation in Gaza. He discussed this issue most recently with Egyptian Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit on 19 February, with Jordanian Foreign Minister Salah Bashr on 13 February, with the Israeli ambassador to London on 29 January and with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni on 24 January. I also met the Israeli ambassador on 17 January and discussed this issue. Our embassy in Tel Aviv and our consulate in Jerusalem regularly meet with Israeli and Palestinian interlocutors to discuss Gaza security.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens were (a) killed, (b) seriously injured and (c) injured in rocket attacks on Israel from (i) Gaza and (ii) the Lebanon in each month since 2005. [188994]
Dr. Howells: There have been no deaths or injuries to British nationals reported to our embassy in Tel Aviv that were attributed to rocket attacks from either Gaza or Lebanon since 2005.
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