The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 19th June 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government:
- what assessment they have made of freedom of religion or belief in Israel and Palestine.
- what assessment they have made of the report from the Rossing Centre for Education and Dialogue, Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem, published in 2025; and what discussions they have had with government of Israel about protecting Christian communities in Israel and East Jerusalem from harassment and violence.
- what discussions they have had with the government of Israel regarding actions on 15 June on land and property in Silwan owned by the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab, FCDO): I refer the Noble Bishop to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 24 June in response to Questions 10663-64, which – for ease of reference – is reproduced below:
The UK is monitoring the situation in Silwan closely, including the reported seizure of land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church. The UK is committed to championing freedom of religion or belief for all, and that is particularly important in a city which holds such significance for the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. It is vital that the historic holy sites where each religious community worships are treated with respect and dignity, and that the traditional arrangements enabling each group to practice their faith are upheld, including the Jerusalem Status Quo. More generally, we know that the demolition of Palestinian property and the eviction of their residents by Israeli authorities is causing unnecessary suffering to communities throughout Palestine. We also condemn the seizure of land by extremist settler groups and their acts of brutal violence, and – as set out by the Foreign Secretary in her statement to the House on 9 June – the UK will continue to do everything possible to advance the two-state solution and hold violent extremist settler groups to account, including through our sanctions regime.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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