§ 1. Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Israel that the Falashas should not be settled in a manner which would disrupt the progress towards Palestinian self-determination.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Richard Luce)The settlement of the Falashas in Israel is a matter for the Israeli Government. Our firm commitment to the Palestinians' right to self-determination is well-known.
§ Mr. MarlowAs those of us who have seen at first hand the inhumane way in which the Palestinians under Israel control are treated will not believe that the Falashas have been hijacked from their natural environment for humanitarian reasons, will my right hon. Friend reassure the House that Her Majesty's Government neither knew of nor assisted in the so-called Operation Moses? Will he make most firmly the point with the Israeli Government that we would not expect the Falashas to be used as front-line troops in the conflict on the West Bank?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Before the Minister replies, I make a special appeal for shorter supplementary questions.
§ Mr. LuceThe Government welcome any efforts that are made to alleviate the sort of suffering that we have been seeing in Ethiopia in the past few weeks and months. We deeply deplore settlements in the occupied territories and regard them as illegal. We are disturbed by the settlements because we think that they are an obstacle to peace. However, that is a separate issue.
§ Mr. JannerHaving regard to the amazing and unique nature of this mercy operation, which I for one had the honour of seeing, would it not be right just once for the House as one to salute a tremendous enterprise of compassion that has been carried out by a nation with great difficulties?
§ Mr. LuceAs I have already said to the hon. and learned Gentleman, the Government welcome any measures that are taken to alleviate grave suffering in Ethiopia. I am glad that the British Government have played a prominent role to that end.
§ Mr. SteenI think that the views of my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) are well known. However, will my right hon. Friend tell the House what steps the Government will take, either officially or unofficially to help save lives in Ethiopia, and especially to save the lives of Falashas and help to re-establish their link with Israel, which has offered them a home and a future?
§ Mr. LuceThe bringing of the Falashas to Israel is a question for the Israeli Government, and the events in Ethiopia form a separate question. I must reinforce the view that the British Government are taking a prominent lead with the provision both of RAF aircraft and of supplies of food and care.
§ Mr. FauldsIs the Minister right in saying that this is a matter of concern only for the Israeli Government? Surely there should have been some reference to the Ethiopian Government in this matter? Is it acceptable that even Israel, which seems to think that it can behave in this exclusive and selective fashion, can mount an operation in another country which leads to a mass exodus during which many thousands of people die? It has been an incomplete exercise, which has partly failed. It was mounted in the interests of one community, to the disregard of millions of others who are starving in the same circumstances.
§ Mr. LuceThat is specifically a question for the Israeli Government. People have a right freely to move across borders, and that is the Government's view. What matters in all this is that suffering in Ethiopia should be alleviated.
§ Mr. LathamIs it not deplorable that my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) and the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds) have criticised Operation Moses without having made any reference to the thousands of black Jews who were starving to death and who are now safely housed in Israel?