The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answers on 17th June 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government:
- whether they will meet members of Save the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem; and what support, if any, they are providing to the campaign of preventing the takeover of Armenian property in the Old City of Jerusalem.
- whether they will take steps to ensure there are no changes to the shape of the Armenian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem that would be illegal.
Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab, FCDO): The UK recognises that Jerusalem holds particular significance for many groups around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It has been the position of the UK Government since 1967 that the Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza) are not lawfully part of the State of Israel. In line with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, we regard East Jerusalem as part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. His Majesty’s Government continue to support the cultural presence and identity in East Jerusalem. Officials at our Consulate General in Jerusalem regularly meet with members of the Christian community and Churches in Jerusalem, including the Armenian Patriarchate, to understand the impact of issues affecting their community.
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Egypt concerning the ruling of the Ismailia Court of Appeal on 27 May on the world’s oldest continuous Christian monastery at St Catherine, Sinai, regarding the ownership of the site and of the surrounding area.
Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK Government recognises St Catherine’s Monastery’s historical and religious importance and tracks this long-standing land ownership dispute. Our Embassy in Cairo participated in discussions with the Egyptian government on this issue on Friday 30 May. We will continue to monitor developments and engage on issues of heritage protection and religious freedoms.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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