8 September 2009

Near East Group

Foreign and Commonwealth

Office

King Charles Street

LONDON

SW1A 2AH

Our ref: FOI 0666-09

Mr Guy Freeman

By e-mail: [FOI #15605 email]

Dear Mr Freeman,

Your Freedom Of Information Request, Ref: 0666-09

Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request dated 11 August in which you requested that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office make available under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 any internal e-mails discussing Breaking the Silence, correspondence with the Israeli government on Breaking the Silence, correspondence with the British Embassy in Tel Aviv about Breaking the Silence, copies of minutes of meetings where Breaking the Silence was mentioned and all correspondence between the FCO and Breaking the Silence.

Section 14 (2) of the FOIA makes provisions for public authorities to refuse requests for information that are identical or substantially similar to a previous request from the same person. We have concluded that your latest request is substantially similar to your previous request reference 0613-09. We are not, therefore, obliged under the Freedom of Information Act to comply with your request. You may wish to refine your search criteria as suggested in our letter to you of 11 August 2009.

You have also asked what level of involvement the FCO has had and is planning to have with Breaking the Silence and the amount of funding for Breaking the Silence that has been given, promised or planned.

The UK supports a number of projects in Israeli and the OPTs that look to promote equality and human rights, build trust between communities and advance peace. Before we agree to provide financial support an organisation has to present a detailed bid for funding, and funding is only awarded if the project is in line with the Foreign Office's strategic objectives. There is no guarantee that we will provide funding indefinitely.

The UK does currently support Breaking the Silence. Specifically the work they do in Hebron. They are an organisation that does some excellent work to raise awareness of the impacts and suffering caused by the occupation.

Our funding for Breaking the Silence so far breaks down as follows:

Nov 2006 - £26,000

Oct 2007 - £26,000

Oct 2008 - £44,923

We plan to donate a further £38,233 in October 2009.

This is an example of FCO in action: we are giving money to an organisation, who, because of their position within Israeli society, can do a lot to raise awareness/promote human rights in the OPTs. Ultimately any lasting peace will need to be wanted and enforced by ordinary people on the ground, so helping ordinary people to learn more about the situation is vital to creating the conditions for peace. Hence our funding for projects like these.

We believe that ending the occupation and ending illegal settlement construction will help Israel achieve the peace and security it so deserves and needs.

If you have any queries about this letter please contact us. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications. 

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint, or request a review of our decision you can direct an internal review request to the Information Rights Team by e-mail to:  [email address]. You have 40 working days to do so from the date our response has issued.

If you are not content with the outcome of that internal review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaint procedure provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

The Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely

Near East Group

On behalf of Near East Group

2

Foreign &

Commonwealth

Office