§ 1. Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to meet the Foreign Secretary of Israel in the near future to discuss the situation in the Middle East.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Francis Pym)I have at present no plans to do so. But the Government are deeply concerned about the situation in the Middle East and are in touch with all the parties concerned, including of course the Israeli Government.
I have discussed the situation with the American Secretary of State Mr. Haig. We are also in urgent consultation with our partners in the European Community. I see great dangers in Israel's failure to comply with Security Council resolutions calling for its immediate withdrawal from Lebanon, and I hope very much that the Israeli Government will reconsider their position.
§ Mr. ThorneGiven that the Israelis have by right a State with a territorial boundary, should not the Palestinians have a similar right? What steps is the Foreign Secretary taking to ensure that such a right is recognised by the United Nations?
§ Mr. PymOur support for the Palestinians' right to self-determination was made clear in the Venice declaration. The principle of self-determination is contained in the United Nations charter. It applies equally to the Palestinians and to the people of the Falkland Islands. We have made public our position on this issue.
§ Mr. CormackIn view of the tragic assault on the Israeli ambassador,, and in the light of my right hon. Friend's heavy commitments, will he arrange for one of the Foreign Office Ministers to go to Israel to explain to the Israeli Government that their present action is making life exceedingly difficult for their friends?
§ Mr. PymThe Israeli Government are already clear about the attitude of Her Majesty's Government. It is always possible to contemplate such a visit, but I do not think that at present it would take us any further. The act that occurred in London was horrific, and the House has already expressed its great shock and dismay.
§ Mr. HealeyI associate myself with the Foreign Secretary's last remarks. There is universal horror in the 190 United Kingdom at the cowardly shooting of the Israeli ambassador who, with integrity and skill, has served his country as well as any Israeli ambassador of my acquaintance since, the war. Will the right hon. Gentleman explain to the Israeli Government that to add to the shock of the Iranian victory over Iraq the humiliation of the Arab people in Lebanon will risk throwing the whole of the Arab world into the hands of Muslim fundamentalism and that nothing could be more contrary to Israel's real interests?
§ Mr. PymI share the right hon. Gentleman's concern about what is now occuring in that region of the world. Not only the invasion—if that is the correct word, and I think it is—by Israel into Lebanon but the events between Iran and Iraq are the causes of the highest tension and the greatest danger. One cannot know where such a situation will end. The potential dangers make us extremely concerned. In conjunction with our European partners, the United States and all our friends around the world, we will do whatever we can and whatever we judge to be best to try to bring this high point of tension to an early end.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. This matter comes up several times in later questions.