Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the objectives of the Government's diplomatic and political policy on Palestine are for 2017; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Minister for the Middle East and Africa): The UK’s longstanding position is clear: we support a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and a just, fair and agreed settlement for refugees. We are encouraging both sides to resume direct bilateral negotiations and we work through international organisations, including the UN and EU, to encourage Israel and the Palestinian Authority to take steps that rebuild trust.

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