UK - Israeli demolitions, settlements

The UK Foreign Office released a statement today expressing concern over increasing Israeli demolitions of Palestinian houses and settlement activities.

The statement referred to the EU statement on the Middle East peace process which "urges both parties to refrain from activities which prejudge the outcome of the final status negotiations and from any activity contrary to international law, including all settlement activity. "

"We shall be studying carefully the ruling in the Israeli High Court tomorrow on the issue of Jerusalem ID cards. In the meantime, we welcome the Israeli Government's recent decision to relax some of the rules on health benefits for those whose ID cards have been withdrawn and to return ID cards to some of the petitioning families," the statement said.