The UK opposes Israel's proposed demolition of a Palestinian school in Al-Maleh and calls on Israel to reconsider its plans to do so. The Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa raised UK concerns about the demolition of Palestinian infrastructure, including the potential demolition of schools, with the Israeli Ambassador to the UK on 29 October. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv also raised our concern about the demolition of schools with the Government of Israel on 13 October, alongside European partners. In all but the most exceptional of circumstances demolitions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law.

The UK Government strongly condemns all forms of violence and incitement to violence, including the use of racist, hateful or anti-Palestinian language and any comments that could stir up hatred and prejudice. We have a regular dialogue with both the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel in which we reiterate the need for both sides to prepare their populations for peaceful coexistence, including by promoting a more positive portrayal of one another to contribute to building the conditions needed for a peace.

We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation, including the treatment of Palestinian children. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the need to protect children, and urge restraint in the use of live fire. In instances where there have been accusations of excessive use of force, we have advocated swift, transparent investigations.

The UK is seriously concerned by the possible demolition of a Palestinian school in Ras Al-Tin by Israeli authorities. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv raised our concern with the Government of Israel on 13 October, alongside European partners. In all but the most exceptional of circumstances demolitions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. We recognise that Palestinians face severe difficulty in securing building permissions for homes and infrastructure in East Jerusalem and Area C. We continue to urge the Government of Israel to develop improved mechanisms for zoning, planning and permitting in Area C for the benefit of the Palestinian population, including by facilitating local Palestinian participation in such processes.

Whilst we are unable to provide these exact figures, the UK is seriously concerned by the continued demolition of Palestinian property, including schools, by Israeli authorities. In all but the most exceptional of circumstances demolitions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. The right to education is a basic right, and it is essential to have a strong and thriving Palestinian education system in order to provide opportunities for the next generation. The UK is a long-term supporter of UNRWA and we recognise UNRWA's unique mandate from the UN General Assembly, to protect and provide protection and core services to Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. This is why the UK is committed to providing support to education workers in the West Bank, and UNRWA education in the West Bank and Gaza.

Whilst we are unable to provide these exact figures, the UK is seriously concerned by the continued demolition of Palestinian property, including schools, by Israeli authorities. In all but the most exceptional of circumstances demolitions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. The right to education is a basic right, and it is essential to have a strong and thriving Palestinian education system in order to provide opportunities for the next generation. The UK is a long-term supporter of UNRWA and we recognise UNRWA's unique mandate from the UN General Assembly, to protect and provide protection and core services to Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. This is why the UK is committed to providing support to education workers in the West Bank, and UNRWA education in the West Bank and Gaza.

In all but the most exceptional of circumstances demolitions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. The practice of demolitions (and confiscations) causes unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and is harmful to the peace process. The UK does not undertake a specific assessment of the impact of demolitions on the education of Palestinian children, but the UK does support education in the OPTs.

UK Aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) helps to ensure it can deliver essential services, including the provision of education by contributing to the salaries of carefully vetted teachers and education workers in the West Bank.

In all but the most exceptional of circumstances demolitions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. The practice of demolitions (and confiscations) causes unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and is harmful to the peace process. The UK does not undertake a specific assessment of the impact of demolitions on the education of Palestinian children, but the UK does support education in the OPTs.

UK Aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) helps to ensure it can deliver essential services, including the provision of education by contributing to the salaries of carefully vetted teachers and education workers in the West Bank.

It is essential to have a strong and thriving Palestinian education system in order to provide opportunities for the next generation. UK aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) helps to ensure it can deliver essential services including the provision of education and health services in the West Bank.

We have regular discussions with the PA on the importance of ensuring children get a quality education.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is child abuse and it is illegal. Services, including schools, should safeguard children from this abuse as from any other form of abuse.

Schools are able to teach about FGM as part of non-statutory personal, social, health and economic education.

By the end of secondary education, pupils should have been taught about FGM. Schools should address the physical and emotional damage caused by FGM. Pupils should be taught where to find support and that it is a criminal offence to perform or assist in the performance of FGM or fail to protect a person for whom one is responsible from FGM. Pupils may also need support to recognise when relationships (including family relationships) are unhealthy or abusive (including the unacceptability of neglect, emotional, sexual and physical abuse, honour-based violence and forced marriage) and strategies to manage this or access support for oneself or others at risk. All teaching for these subjects should be age and developmentally appropriate and sensitive to the needs of the pupil, including ensuring that no pupil feels stigmatised. Schools should work closely with the local community and key partners, such as school nurses, and draw on local health data when planning their teaching for any aspect of these subjects. Teaching about FGM will not be in isolation but as part of a wider context of positive relationships, health and mental wellbeing. The focus on ensuring pupils know how to get further help should be threaded throughout these subjects.

The statutory guidance for these subjects was developed as part of a call for evidence and public consultation, and the government’s response is attached and available here:
https://consult.education.gov.uk/pshe/relationships-education-rse-health-education/supporting_documents/180718%20Consultation_call%20for%20evidence%20response_policy%20statement.pdf.

The summary of the public consultation includes a list of the organisations engaged within Annex A, which is attached and available here:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/780768/Government_Response_to_RSE_Consultation.pdf.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is child abuse and it is illegal. Services, including schools, should safeguard children from this abuse as from any other form of abuse.

Schools are able to teach about FGM as part of non-statutory personal, social, health and economic education.

By the end of secondary education, pupils should have been taught about FGM. Schools should address the physical and emotional damage caused by FGM. Pupils should be taught where to find support and that it is a criminal offence to perform or assist in the performance of FGM or fail to protect a person for whom one is responsible from FGM. Pupils may also need support to recognise when relationships (including family relationships) are unhealthy or abusive (including the unacceptability of neglect, emotional, sexual and physical abuse, honour-based violence and forced marriage) and strategies to manage this or access support for oneself or others at risk. All teaching for these subjects should be age and developmentally appropriate and sensitive to the needs of the pupil, including ensuring that no pupil feels stigmatised. Schools should work closely with the local community and key partners, such as school nurses, and draw on local health data when planning their teaching for any aspect of these subjects. Teaching about FGM will not be in isolation but as part of a wider context of positive relationships, health and mental wellbeing. The focus on ensuring pupils know how to get further help should be threaded throughout these subjects.

The statutory guidance for these subjects was developed as part of a call for evidence and public consultation, and the government’s response is attached and available here:
https://consult.education.gov.uk/pshe/relationships-education-rse-health-education/supporting_documents/180718%20Consultation_call%20for%20evidence%20response_policy%20statement.pdf.

The summary of the public consultation includes a list of the organisations engaged within Annex A, which is attached and available here:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/780768/Government_Response_to_RSE_Consultation.pdf.

While we have not made representations on this specific issue, officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv raised the increase in demolitions with the Israeli authorities on 17 December 2019. The practice of confiscations and demolitions causes unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and is harmful to the peace process. We continue to urge the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to avoid actions that make it more difficult to achieve a culture of peaceful coexistence and a negotiated solution to the conflict. We have also stressed the importance of the Israel security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the need to protect children. Under international humanitarian law, an occupying power has an obligation to facilitate the proper working of all institutions devoted to the care and education of children, with the cooperation of national and local authorities.

While we have not raised the case in question, we condemn any incidence of violence by settlers against Palestinians. We welcome the efforts of Israeli authorities to address settler violence, and urge them to thoroughly investigate every instance to bring those responsible to justice and end the culture of impunity. We have also stressed the importance of the Israel security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the need to protect children. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv last raised the issue of settler violence with the Israeli authorities on 17 December 2019.

We are following the issue of unresolved Bedouin land claims, unrecognised Bedouin villages in the Negev and lack of or interruption to basic services. We continue to encourage the Israeli authorities and Bedouin communities to engage in dialogue to find satisfactory solutions.

While we have not raised this case specifically, we regularly raise our concerns with the Israeli authorities about Israel's use of force in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We have stressed the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the need to protect children.

The EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah have written to the Israeli authorities, calling on them to 'return the confiscated items to their intended beneficiaries without precondition as soon as possible; otherwise to provide compensation without delay for the dismantled and confiscated assets'. Alongside other EU member states, the UK continues to raise these issues with the Government of Israel.

We are aware of media reports about the attempted raid on two Palestinian elementary schools in Tuqu village. While we have not raised this specific issue with the Government of Israel, we regularly make clear our concerns about settler attacks to the Israeli authorities.

The right to education is a basic right, and every Israeli and Palestinian has the right to live in peace and security. That is why the UK continues to support education through our funding to the Palestinian Authority and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees. Last year, UK support contributed towards the salaries of approximately 33,000 public servants under the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, including teachers, helping 25,000 young Palestinians to receive an education. We have repeatedly made clear to the Israeli authorities our serious concern at the increase in demolitions of Palestinian properties and we call on them to cease the policy of demolitions.

​We have not made any assessment on this issue. The right to education is a basic right and every Israeli and Palestinian has the right to live in peace and security. Last year, UK support contributed towards the salaries of approximately 33,000 public servants under the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, including teachers, helping 25,000 young Palestinians to receive an education.

We are very concerned at the high numbers of Palestinians killed by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the West Bank and Gaza. We have raised the issue with the Israeli authorities, encouraging them to carry out transparent investigations into whether the use of live fire has been appropriate.

The UK has repeatedly made clear to Israel our longstanding concerns about the manner in which the IDF polices protests and the border areas, including use of live ammunition. We will continue to do so.