Israeli Settlements (Hansard, 22 March 1978)

§ 8. Mr. Hooley
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Prime Minister or Foreign Secretary of Israel about Israeli settlements in occupied Arab territory in the context of a Middle East settlement; and if he will make a statement.

§ Dr. Owen
The Government have been in constant touch with all the parties. I made our views on Israeli settlements in the occupied territories clear when in Israel.
Recent events have shown the vicious spiral of events which can easily lead to a major conflict.
The Security Council, with our full support, has established a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. We informed the Secretary-General yesterday, in keeping with our commitment to the United Nations and in particular its peacekeeping activity, that we are ready to provide logistic support from the sovereign base areas in Cyprus for this force. The essential step now is for the United Nations force to be introduced as soon as possible.
The plight of the refugees from the fighting is of great concern to the Government, and we have already taken steps to provide emergency relief.
The task now must be to focus attention once more on comprehensive peace negotiations.

§ Mr. Hooley
Does my right hon. Friend agree that the merciless slaughter of civilians in South Lebanon by the regular armed forces of Israel and the creation of another 100,000 Arab refugees does not seem to indicate that the present Israeli Government are much interested in permanent peace? Does he also agree that the one gesture that that Government could make to prove good faith would be a firm declaration that the settlements will be removed in the context of a final settlement?

§ Dr. Owen
I think that the most urgent matter in the conversations taking place between Prime Minister Begin and President Carter is a clarification of what the Israeli Government really understand by Resolution 242 and a reaffirmation that it means withdrawal on all three fronts.

§ Mr. Walters
Bearing in mind the part that this country played in the formulation of Resolution 242, may I take it from the right hon. Gentleman's answer that he is repudiating Mr. Begin's new and rather extraordinary interpretation, and that withdrawal from the West Bank is part of the withdrawal from all Arab territories?

§ Dr. Owen
It is the Government's view, as it has been of successive British Governments, that withdrawal from all three areas—Golan, the West Bank and Sinai—is part of the interpretation of Resolution 242. We have also constantly reiterated our determination that Israel should have secure boundaries. If there are security needs, they should be examined.

§ Mr. Faulds
What hope does my right hon. Friend really have that the Israeli forces will withdraw from Southern Lebanon, as it has long been a policy of Israel to occupy the territory up to the Litani river?

§ Dr. Owen
I do not believe that the Israeli Government wish to occupy the territory up to the Litani. I think that the speed of the withdrawal will be greatly influenced by the effectiveness and strength of the United Nations force to be introduced into Southern Lebanon. That is why I thought it very important that Her Majesty's Government should make a contribution to that force.

§ Mr. Hugh Fraser
In view of the contribution to be made towards restoration of proper Lebanese control of their own area, surely the Government can go a hit further than they have. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the French have offered a parachute battalion to the international force? Surely we can go much further than simply offering support facilities from Cyprus.

§ Dr. Owen
We were asked to provide logistic support and we have made available what we think can be made available. The advantage of what we have in Cyprus is that we are already providing logistic support for the United Nations force in Cyprus. It is very convenient, in terms of airfields and ports, for Southern Lebanon, and I think it will provide a safe and secure support base which will make a very important contribution over the next few weeks to the stability of the United Nations force.

§ Mr. Grocott
Will my right hon. Friend make it abundantly clear to the Israeli Government that it is neither a very moral policy nor, indeed, a very prudent one for Israel or any other country to deal with the problem of terrorist attacks by means of all-out war against a neighbouring State?

§ Dr. Owen
I have never believed in the doctrine of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, and I do not believe that international peace is helped by retaliatory action. But it would be idle to pretend that the Israeli Government and people were not very cruelly provoked.

§ Sir John Rodgers
With regard to United Nations Resolution 242, surely it was a previous British Government who took out the word "all" in "all territories". The removal of the word "all" was a British initiative. Withdrawal from the territories, yes—but not all of the territories, necessarily. Is the Foreign Secretary repudiating that commitment by Her Majesty's Government of a previous day, before he was made Foreign Secretary?

§ Dr. Owen
I would not dream of repudiating it. It has been supported by successive Governments. "The" referred to "the territories". "All" would mean, in the interpretation, in the wording that was then being discussed, withdrawing to exactly the 1967 boundaries. The removal of the word "all" allowed for marginal adjustments, which I think was the phrase used by Sir Alec Douglas-Home—as he then was—in his speech at Harrogate. Therefore, successive British Governments have accepted that some arguments may take place about security needs in relationship to territory, but not on the issue of withdrawal from all three fronts.

Several Hon. Members rose
—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. On this Question, I shall call one more hon. Member from each side of the House.

§ Mr. Heffer
Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of us on the Labour Benches who have been staunch supporters of Israel and who continue to be staunch supporters of Israel are, nevertheless, very concerned that the response to the dastardly terrorist attack should have been made in the manner in which it was, that we are not in favour of the invasion of someone else's territory, and that we congratulate my right hon. Friend on the stand that the Government have taken on this issue and trust that the efforts being made by the Government will help to bring about peace in the Middle East?

§ Dr. Owen
I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I know his long-standing concern for Israel and its territorial integrity and strength. I hope that his words will be read and listened to with attention, because I think that they reflect the anxieties of many people at present.

§ Mr. Mayhew
Do not these events provide yet another illustration of the value to this country of maintaining sovereign bases in Cyprus? Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that he has neither proposals nor a desire to withdraw from those bases?

§ Dr. Owen
I believe that there are benefits to this country in the sovereign base areas. The question must be considered in terms of the cost and the various ways in which the sovereign base areas can be used. But this is a concrete example of their effectiveness, as indeed has been the British support for the United Nations peace keeping force inside Cyprus. However, one has to take account of the very heavy financial cost that we bear by our military presence in Cyprus.