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WQ.236/2021
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE
MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES BY SENATOR S.Y. MÉZEC
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 17th MAY 2021 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 24th MAY 2021
Question
Will the Minister –
- provide details of all engagements that he, or officers on his behalf, have had directly with representatives of the Government of Israel, including the municipality of Jerusalem;
- state whether or not the Government of Jersey recognises the jurisdiction of the Israeli state in East Jerusalem to be that of illegal occupation;
- state whether any engagements have taken place with either Government representatives or business representatives based in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and, if so, how many; and
- advise what position the Government of Jersey is taking in relation to Jersey businesses engaging with businesses operating from settlements established in occupied land in Palestine?
Answer
- Since taking office in June 2018, there have been no formal bilateral meetings between the Minister for External Relations and Financial Services and representatives of the Government of Israel. The Minister has attended multilateral events where representatives of the Government of Israel may have been present among the official delegates.
Officers from the External Relations Department last engaged with counterparts at the Israeli Embassy in London in September 2019 as part of their usual meetings with stakeholders from across the London diplomatic community. Officers have attended multilateral events where representatives of the Government of Israel may have been present among the official delegates.
- The Government of Jersey is aligned with the United Kingdom, which is ultimately responsible for Jersey's international affairs under international law, in recognising United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 (1967) and subsequent Council resolutions which recognise the de facto jurisdiction of Israel over West Jerusalem and regard East Jerusalem as being under Israeli occupation.
It is not for the Government of Jersey to unilaterally opine on whether delicate and sensitive matters are or are not illegal. Jersey supports the UK's longstanding and clear position on the Middle East Peace Process that aims for both a safe and secure Israel and a viable and sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as their shared capital.
- Since taking office in June 2018, neither the Minister for External Relations and Financial Services nor officers on his behalf have engaged with governmental or business representatives based in the West Bank.
- The Government of Jersey does not have an exhaustive list of where Jersey businesses should or should not choose to privately operate based on their own commercial considerations. Any Jersey companies choosing to conduct business outside of the Island should always abide by all laws and regulations both in that market and in Jersey.
Jersey implements all UN and UK sanctions and believes in targeted sanctions and asset freezes against individuals and organisations rather than entire jurisdictions. Ultimate responsibility for monitoring and ensuring compliance with legal obligations under the Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Jersey) Law 2019 rests with individual businesses.