I am aware of the report to which the Deputy refers. I would regard any action of the type suggested, which has the effect of contaminating the water supply of a community or putting the health of that community at risk, as an extremely serious development. However, to class an instance of sewage pollution as germ warfare is not, in my view, in keeping with the seriousness of the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction against which the Government has taken a very active stand.
The Government is concerned about the continuing humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Territories, and the damage to the environment that is being caused. As I have previously stated, Israel has clear responsibilities as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Among those responsibilities is the requirement that harm to the indigenous population should be minimised and that they should have access to the necessities of life, including fresh water.
I have asked our representative office in Ramallah for a report on the alleged Israeli action.
