To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2005, Official Report, column 1578W, on Israel, whether he has made representations to the Israeli authorities about the Citizenship and Entrance to Israel law since it was extended on 31 January.

Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv raised the matter with Israeli Interior Minister Paz-Pines on 7 March. Mr. Paz-Pines said the Israeli government would conduct a further review of the temporary order on 31 May. He expected to see modifications to the law which would allow Palestinians above a certain age to be reunited with their families in Israel. The law would expire at the end of 2005, by which time an entirely new immigration law would need to be introduced.