To ask Her Majesty's Government what remedy exists under international law to remove any illegal settlements in the West Bank. [HL1776]

In its Advisory Opinion on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (2004), the International Court of Justice concluded that,

“the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (including East Jerusalem) have been established in breach of international law",

and the UN Security Council has also taken that position (for example, UN Security Council Resolution 446 [1980]). International law requires Israel to cease settlement activity that is in breach of international law and to make reparation. Israeli settlement activity is also in contravention of Israel’s obligations under the road map agreement of April 2003. It clearly sets out the steps the Palestinian Authority and Israel need to implement to achieve a negotiated settlement. Both sides have accepted the road map.

The Government have raised the issue with the Israeli Government on many occasions. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary voiced strong opposition to illegal Israeli settlements during his visit to the region on 16 to 19 November 2008.