FOI

Document A1: Martin Day's job description, April 2009

Main purpose of job: Frontline spokesperson with Arabic language media in the Arab world discussing UK policy and the UK's relationship with the Arabic and Islamic worlds. Active role in the strategic direction of media work in the Arab and Islamic worlds, supporting and raising the game of HMG's regional network of spokespeople and PPAOs and recommending best use of resources. The job is based in Dubai, and there are chances to return regularly to London and travel extensively in the region, including with the Foreign Secretary. Willingness to work flexible hours essential.
Provide a breakdown of your main duties and responsibilities, and the percentage of your time they occupy:
Type of work	Duties & responsibilities	% of time
Press/Public Affairs	Engaging in regular interviews and debates with the media on a diverse range of issues in order to correct misconceptions about UK foreign policy and explain the UK official perspective on these issues.	30
Press/Public Affairs	Taking the initiative to establish and maintain strong working relationships with media organisations, in Dubai and the region, including visits around the region.	30
Press/Public Affairs	Working with FCO and missions abroad to ensure a co-ordinated approach to media policy in the region and feeding back on the impact of our policy and communications work. Reporting back to FCO colleagues about media developments and recommendations for making our media work more effective.	30
Press/Public Affairs	Participating in conferences and other public events in order to give a balanced picture of UK policies.	5
Press/Public Affairs	Accompanying the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers on visits to the region	5

Document B: 17 June, excerpt from report from Martin Day, summarising his activity to date (no subsequent summary of activities exists)

Activities

April

27 BBC Arabic TV on Afghanistan

28 Al Bayyan and Al Khaleej (UAE papers) - wide-ranging interviews

May

1 Iraqi newspaper on Maliki's visit to UK

Al Arabiya interview on main evening news on Britain's new role in Iraq

5 Abu Dhabi TV - MEPP, Iraq and Afghanistan

Al Ittihad (UAE paper) - wide-ranging interview

12 Al Arabiya interview on contacts with Hizbullah

18-20 Morocco - numerous press, radio and TV interviews

22 "Midday guest" on Al Jazeera - FS speech, Iraq, Iran, MEPP

23 Al Hiwar TV on FS speech

24-25 Egypt - numerous press, TV and radio interviews

26 Al Shorouk (Egypt) - policy towards Hamas

June

(1-7 Course and leave)

9 Bahrain - Akhbar alYaum - wide ranging interview

15 Al Arabiya and Al-Sharqiya interviews on Iraq review

16 BBC Arabic radio "Talk of the Hour" on Iraq review

Document C: 21 July, excerpt of material compiled by the Near East Group and sent to Martin Day by Press Office, entitled: British policy on Israeli settlement activity in the Occupied Territories.

….Both bilaterally and with our EU/international partners we have been looking at tangible & practical measures to reinforce our position. For example, we are working to ensure that goods from settlements do not benefit from EU trading agreements with Israel. The UK also funds several projects on the ground in Israel and the OPTs to help combat settlement activity. This year, for example, we will provide £100,000 for a project to produce reliable information about the situation on the ground. (see below for further details)…

We will continue to support organisations which monitor construction activity in illegal settlements and outposts, and this year we will provide £100,000 for a project to produce reliable information about the situation on the ground.

The UK provided £116, 000 in 2008/09 to support a project which saved 200 Palestinian houses from demolition in East Jerusalem. This year, UK funding of £135, 000 is helping to create a new Palestinian neighbourhood in East Jerusalem, which will include 2000-2500 housing units, and has saved a further 177 Palestinian homes from demolition. A further initiative with funding of £150, 000 aims to reduce the number of house demolitions in `Area C' in the West Bank.

Document D: 4 August, widely distributed email from Near East Group

I attach a revised version of the factsheet "UK financial support to the Palestinians". There have been some important changes, so please can you ensure that you delete the previous version from your systems and refer only to this one. Please also cascade around your communications networks so that all PPAOs and comms officers have the correct version.

The factsheet is designed for internal use only: HMG officials may find it helpful to refer to concrete examples of UK action when talking about UK policy to the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The factsheet should not be handed out to external contacts.

Many thanks and I hope it is useful.

Document E: 4 August, excerpt from Factsheet attached to email quoted in Document D

Action against illegal Israeli settlements and the demolition of Palestinian homes

We believe that continued construction of illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian territories constitutes a major obstacle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians. We will continue to support organisations which monitor construction activity in illegal settlements and outposts, and this year we will provide £100,000 for a project to produce reliable information about the situation on the ground.

The UK is providing £450,000 over 4 years to support projects in East Jerusalem and the West Bank that help Palestinians better understand and effectively use the Israeli planning laws, in order to gain planning permission - both retrospectively for existing homes and prospectively for new homes on their side of the Green Line. Gaining retrospective planning permission legalises homes and so protects them from demolition. Over the past two years this has saved over 300 homes from demolition.