HC Deb 10 February 1981 vol 998 cc738-9
Q.3. Mr. Renton

asked the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to visit Tel Aviv.

The Prime Minister

I have at present no plans to do so.

Mr. Renton

When my right hon. Friend visits Washington at the end of the month will she discuss with President Reagan the great need for a settlement of the Palestinian question? To what extent does she feel that the Camp David concept of Palestinian autonomy within a framework to be determined by Egypt, Israel and, ultimately, Jordan is still valid?

The Prime Minister

When we go to the United States we shall undoubtedly discuss this matter with President Reagan. I believe that Camp David was a great step forward. I have no doubt that the President of the United States will be considering how to take it further. One of the problems is that the concept of autonomy has so far been rejected by Jordan and the other Arab leaders.

Mr. Hooley

If the Prime Minister goes to Tel Aviv will she go to the West Bank and talk to the Palestinians there where she will discover that they are determined to secure the right of self-determination in their own independent State?

The Prime Minister

We issued a declaration from Venice on this matter. If there is to be a settlement of the great problems in that area it is vital that one side should honour the right of Israel to live behind secure borders and in peace and that the other side should honour the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The problem has been to move those two essentials forward together.

Viscount Cranborne

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that she recognises Israel's right to exist and that the Palestinian Liberation Organisation is still dedicated to the destruction of the Israeli State?

The Prime Minister

Of course we recognise Israel's right to exist and behind secure boundaries. We have never recognised the PLO as the sole representative of the Palestinian people because of its relationship with terrorist activities.

Mr. Ernie Ross

If the Prime Minister goes to Tel Aviv will she stress to the Israelis that they cannot expect to live behind any type of secure border when they continue to seize land as they did recently when they seized 4,000 acres around the Arab town of Nablus?

The Prime Minister

That illustrates the importance of trying to secure an agreement on this long-standing problem. I do not think that it helps to hurl accusations at one side or the other. We must try to move both sides forward, recognising the two concepts that I indicated earlier.