§ 10. Mr. Waltersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's attitude towards progress to peace in the Middle East.
§ Dr. OwenThe Government continue to support efforts to restore direct peace talks between Egypt and Israel. This is on the understanding that these would be aimed at wider negotiations leading to a comprehensive settlement based on the principles of Security Council resolution 242 as amplified in the European Council declaration of 29th June 1977.
§ Mr. WaltersWill the Foreign Secretary comment on the fact that the Israeli Government have rejected out of hand the most recent proposal put forward by the Egyptian Government, with American encouragement? Does he not feel that the time has come for the European Community to break its rather long silence on the subject? Will he put forward a proposal of international control of the West Bank and Gaza after Israeli withdrawal?
§ Dr. OwenIt was agreed in the Council of Foreign Ministers yesterday that this issue would be discussed as a political co-operation item at the Bremen Summit. There was no disposition to make another statement, but certainly we wanted to try to see where we were going, and in particular to judge the climate and see whether the United States' present attempts to bring Israel and Egypt into direct talks would be successful.
§ Mr. Arnold ShawDoes my right hon. Friend agree that there is a fine balance between the Arab expectations in regard to territory and the needs of Israel for security? May we be assured that there will be, from Her Majesty's Government, a continuing even-handed policy?
§ Dr. OwenYes. I believe that we have to balance those two factors. Sometimes, when resolutions have been put down which have ignored the legitimate security interest of Israel, the United 1381 Kingdom has thought it right to insist that that should be included. I think that the balance also has to reflect a degree of commitment to achieving a negotiated settlement. Further and more positive statements will have to be made. In relation to this—referring to a question of the hon. Member for Westbury (Mr. Walters) that I did not answer—I think that the Israeli Cabinet will have to be more positive in any direct talks that may come about. It may argue that it cannot move in isolation, from being in negotiation, but the world expects movement in any discussions.
§ Mr. LuceSince there is a serious impasse at the present time, will the Secretary of State make clear, in answer to the question posed by my hon. Friend the Member for Westbury (Mr. Walters), whether he feels that there is a role for the Community to play in helping to facilitate further discussions between the Arabs and the Israelis, clearly based on the principle of Security Council resolution 242?
§ Dr. OwenYes, I think that there is a continuing role for the European Community. It is involved with all the States through the Maghreb agreements. We have traditional links—some of them very close and long-established—with various countries, and I believe that the European Community is right to keep this issue constantly in front of it. There are times when we can be supportive of the United States, and there are times when we can take an independent stance.