During his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (taking place this week), the UK's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly met Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh in Ramallah yesterday.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said that Mr Cleverly had reassured Mr Shtayyeh that the UK’s position on the Occupied Palestinian Territories has not changed - reiterating the UK’s commitment to a two-state solution, based on 1967 borders with Jerusalem as a shared capital.
The spokesperson also said that Mr Cleverly has acknowledged the Prime Minister’s concerns about the trajectory of instability in the West Bank, particularly in the context of increased Israeli incursions and the rise of settler violence, and that he had urged the Prime Minister to hold elections as soon as possible - as part of a process of democratic renewal in the OPT's.
Meanwhile, during a visit to Jalazone Refugee Camp in the West Bank, the Foreign Secretary announced a £10 million package of funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA - the UN body which supports 5.9 million refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria), which will provide lifesaving support for Palestinian refugees who are facing a deepening crisis.
Escalations in violence have put increased pressure on Palestinians and UNRWA’s essential services. The new funding will support UNRWA to continue providing education to around 543,000 children a year - half of them girls - and deliver health services to 1.9 million Palestinian refugees in the region.
Following the UNRWA funding announcement, Mr Cleverly commented:
"On my visit to Jalazone refugee camp today, I have seen first-hand the impact of UNRWA’s work supporting Palestinian refugees in the West Bank.
UK funding is helping to support 5.9 million Palestinian refugees across the region with vital healthcare and education services, and today I’ve announced a further increase to our contribution.
UNRWA is in dire need of additional support to continue its work, so I urge the international community to step up support."