Middle East (Hansard, 7 July 1982)

§ 3. Mr. Les Huckfield
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his latest discussions with EEC Ministers about events in the Middle East.
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Douglas Hurd) In their statement of 29 June following the meeting of the European Council, the Ten set out the principles which in our view could serve as the basis for the lasting restoration of peace and security not only in Lebanon but in the Middle East as a whole.
We remain deeply concerned about the situation in Lebanon and are doing what we can to relieve the suffering of the victims. Mr. Habib, President Reagan's envoy, is still at work. We hope that his efforts will lead to a ceasefire which will last, and to arrangements for disengagement of forces, as a first step towards full implementation of recent resolutions of the Security Council.

§ Mr. Huckfield
Will the Minister acknowledge that the main problem in the Lebanon historically has been the intervention of far too many outside forces? What are the Government doing to implement the withdrawal of all external armed forces and ultimately to restore sovereignty to the Lebanese?

§ Mr. Hurd
We are not directly involved in the main negotiations, but our view is clear. The first thing is to bring about the emergence of an effective Lebanese Government and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, as specified by the Security Council. It will then be for the Lebanese Government to decide future arrangements.

§ Mr. Marlow
Does my right hon. Friend agree with me that all hon. Members are reluctant to see aggression succeed? Is not the first priority to get the Israelis out of the Lebanon rather than to get the Palestinians out of Beirut, because they are there with authority? To that end, does my right hon. Friend agree that our European partners and many right hon. and hon. Members would be happy for us to participate in any peacekeeping force that might be necessary to restore authority to the Lebanese?

§ Mr. Hurd
There is a question on the Order Paper about a peacekeeping force. The first priority is to stop the killing in the Lebanon. That is why we support Mr. Habib's efforts.

§ Mr. Greville Janner
Does the Minister accept what the Prime Minister said in the House last week—that the best way towards the restoration of peace would be for the PLO to leave and that she very much hoped that it would? Does the right hon. Gentleman know, as I learnt only two days ago, that the majority of the Lebanese people regard the PLO as unwanted guests whose behaviour has been disgraceful and whom they want to see leave as soon as possible?

§ Mr. Hurd
I do not know how the hon. and learned Gentleman is able to judge the opinion of the majority of the Lebanese people. He will have noted that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also said that she found nothing in the justification for Israel's action which carried conviction.

§ Mr. Adley
If my right hon. Friend wants to check Lebanese opinion, I suggest that he might try the Lebanese ambassador for a start. Will he confirm that it is no part of Her Majesty's Government's policy to allow countries to dictate who their neighbours should be or the form of Government that should exist in neighbouring countries?

§ Mr. Hurd
That is right.

§ Mr. Healey
Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that neither he nor the Foreign Secretary will be deterred from expressing views about the current activity of the Israeli army round Beirut which may be similar to the views expressed by the Labour alignment—the main Opposition parties—in Israel? Is he aware that the majority of right hon. and hon. Members regard the sufferings of Lebanese men, women and children in Beirut as a serious offence against the principles of Zionism?

§ Mr. Hurd
The sufferings are great and the evidence of them is accumulating day by day. I agree with the right hon. Gentleman's sentiment.