We are concerned at the human rights situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories and regularly receive representations about human rights from non-governmental organisations in the region and in London.
We are particularly concerned by the failure to implement the 15 November 2005 agreement on movement and access; extra-judicial killings of Palestinians by the Israel defence force; the firing of artillery shells near populated areas of the Gaza Strip causing deaths of civilians; continued settlement construction in the West Bank; the impact of the barrier; closures; settler violence; and intimidation and harassment of Palestinian citizens. We also remain concerned about human rights abuses in areas where the Palestinian authority should take responsibility, in particular its failure to prevent terrorist attacks, militant groups from attacking Israeli civilians and the continuing violence between Palestinian groups. We regularly raise these concerns with the Israeli Government and Palestinian President Abbas.