§ Mr. Ernie Ross (Dundee, West)I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely,
the serious threat to peace in the Middle East.The specific instance is the dismissal by the Israeli military authorities of the democratically elected mayors of Nablus, Bassam Shakaa, and Karim Khalaf of Ramallah. I suggest that the House should adjourn to discuss the matter. Allied to that is the shooting yesterday of an unarmed, 17-year-old Palestinian by an Israeli settler.
I suggest that is a further reason why the House should give me leave to move the Adjournment. The continual dismissal of democratically elected mayors must give rise to serious concern about the total breakdown of the civilian administration in the occupied territories. The Israeli decision is a clear breach of article 54 of the Geneva convention concerning the power of occupying forces. Television has demonstrated, and the House has witnessed, armed Israeli civilians firing on crowds of Arab youngsters and elderly women. It must pose a serious threat to peace in the Middle East if the oppressed Palestinian people seek to defend themselves. The decision of about 30 Arab policemen in Jerusalem to resign is a further example of the breakdown of the civilian administration of the West Bank. That breakdown could as easily lead to civil war.
The House last specifically debated the Middle East on Friday 9 March 1979, although the matter has arisen since during various foreign affairs debates. There was to be a debate on 22 December 1981 but that debate did not take place.
The House knows that we decided to participate in the Sinai peacekeeping force. I believe that it is important that the House should have a guarantee of the safety of the individuals in that peacekeeping force.
The other matter that should concern this House as a matter of urgency is the fact that the Foreign Secretary will visit Israel on Wednesday. Before that visit takes place I believe that the House should have the opportunity to express its abhorrence and concern at the way the Israeli authorities carry out their civilian-occupying administration on the West Bank.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman gave me notice before 12 o'clock this morning that he would seek leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely,
the serious threat to peace in the Middle East.He submitted in his letter the reasons he has outlined to the House in moving this motion.He knows, and the House knows, that under Standing Order No. 9 I am directed to take into account the several factors set out in that Order but to give no reasons for my decision. I have listened with care to the hon. Gentleman, but I must rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of that Standing Order, and therefore I cannot submit his application to the House.