The Government continues to make clear that Israel should halt the construction of the barrier on Palestinian land.

Petition in the House of Commons, London, Tuesday, 25th March 08.

Palestinian Community of Jayyous

The Humble Petition of Ms Cate Mowat and others of like disposition,

Sheweth

That families within the Palestinian community of Jayyous are being forced off their agricultural land due to a lack of water from wells. Five of the groundwater wells which they previously had access to are now situated beyond the new Israeli wall. The Israeli authorities are refusing permits to drill new wells on Jayyous land.

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Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House shall urge the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to consider the plight of the community within Jayyous and to pressurise the Israeli authorities to allow new wells to be drilled on their land.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. —[Presented by Michael Connarty , Official Report, 27 February 2008; Vol. 472, c. 1206.] [P000088]

Observations from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs:

The Government is concerned at the impact the barrier has on the lives of Palestinians, and deplores the destruction of Palestinian homes and the confiscation of Palestinian land associated with its construction. We are concerned about the effects the building of the barrier has on the Palestinian community of Jayyous and their access to agricultural land and water. The Foreign Affairs Committee had a briefing on Jayyous during their trip to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian lands.

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Territories from 28-30 March 2007. The EU has raised this issue with the Israeli Government. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv and Consulate-General in Jerusalem continue to monitor the situation in the West Bank and raise our concerns when appropriate.

The Government continues to make clear that Israel should halt the construction of the barrier on Palestinian land. This practice is contrary to international law and threatens the viability of an agreed two-state solution. The Israeli government should not create facts on the ground, which might prejudice final status negotiations. We fully recognise Israel's right to self-defence and agree that a barrier is a reasonable way to achieve this. However, we call for the barrier to be built either on or behind the Green Line. The route, which the Israeli Cabinet approved on 20 February 2005, takes in a number of Israeli settlements, illegal under international law. It also contributes to the fragmentation of the West Bank, which in turn undermines prospects for a negotiated two-state solution