On Friday two questions were set out from the Eastbourne MP, Caroline Ansell. Both of the questions were responded by David Rutley who is the Government Minister for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and the MP for Macclesfield. When questions are published there are the option for people to respond to Does this answer the above question? and so far only one response has come from these two questions and both of them are indicated that the person thinks they have not been responded sufficiently. If other people have a view about these questions it would be great to add to the yes or no sections. So here are the two questions and then the two Answers. They can be observed from here for first and second locations where the option response is included.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps:

1: to engage with moderate Palestinian actors who renounce violence and will take part in a peace process with Israel; and if he will make a statement.

2: to help (a) reduce tensions between Israel and the (i) Gaza Strip and (ii) West Bank and (b) facilitate peace efforts; and if he will make a statement.

And here are the two answers

1: We urge the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to engage in meaningful dialogue to further the cause of peace at every opportunity. We continue to monitor the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza and welcome the recent ceasefire brokered by Egypt. When the Minister for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon met with Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad Malki on 5 May, he reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to the Middle East peace process. The UK also continues to engage at the highest levels within the Palestinian Authority (PA) through the British Consulate General Jerusalem.

2: The UK Government supports all efforts to promote dialogue and create a pathway towards sustainable peace. As the Foreign Secretary said in his 14 May statement, we welcome the current Egyptian-brokered ceasefire and urge all sides to de-escalate tensions. The ceasefire must now be honoured to prevent the loss of further civilian life. The Foreign Secretary also wrote to his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen on May 10 to affirm the UK’s support for Israel’s right to self-defence, but also to note UK concern at reports of civilian fatalities in Gaza, and to emphasise that all actions taken must be proportionate, calibrated to avoid civilian casualties, and in line with international humanitarian law.