Middle East (Hansard, 5 March 1986)

§ 7. Sir John Biggs-Davison
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what part Her Majesty's Government are playing in international efforts to bring about pacification in the middle east.

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
We shall continue to support all realistic initiatives for peaceful solutions of the region's conflicts. I discussed the situation in the middle east with my European colleagues on 25 February and with the Syrian Foreign Minister on 3 March.

§ Sir John Biggs-Davison
Did my right hon. and learned Friend discuss with the Syrian Foreign Minister the danger of conflict between Syria and Israel? Did he ask him to use his good offices for the release of British citizens imprisoned in Syria and in Lebanon, where Syria has so much influence?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
I certainly impressed upon Mr. Shara the need for both sides, Syria as well as Israel, and the other states in the region, to sustain the search for a basis for long-term peace. I also raised with Mr. Shara, specifically, the case of Mr. Alec Collett, and enlisted his continuing help in trying to secure the release of that British citizen along with other hostages held in that country.

§ Mr. Faulds
In view of the recent re-invasion of Lebanon by Israel—[Interruption.] It would be a benefit to the House if occasionally questions could be asked without interventions persistently made from a sedentary position.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I am here to look after the hon. Gentleman.

§ Mr. Faulds
Thank you, Sir. Elder statesmen should be treated with respect.
In view of the recent re-invasion of Lebanon by Israel, which uses international terrorism as a continuing policy of state, is it not time that the Government took the initiative in the EEC to get it to abrogate, or at least suspend, its trading and financial agreements with Israel?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
I am glad that the hon. Gentleman was able to make himself heard. I do not think that, even at his invitation, it would be right to take that step, but I join him in deploring the continuing residual presence of Israeli defence forces, and the security zone, in Lebanon, which is provocative and without justification. I agree that the recent Israeli incursion into Lebanon will not help to meet the legitimate concern expressed on both sides of the House about border security.

§ Mr. Walters
While it is generally agreed that the failure of King Hussein's courageous initiative has been a grave setback to progress towards peace in the middle east, does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that as the essence of the conflict is about Palestine and Palestinian rights, it would be absurd to try to exclude the legitimate representatives of the Palestinians from any future negotiations?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
I join my hon. Friend in regretting the fact that the initiative taken by King Hussein has, so far, led only to the statements that he made about it—quite understandably—in the past week or two. I agree that we must continue to support the Palestinians' right to self-determination. It is not for us to say by whom they should be represented. We do not accept that the Palestine Liberation Organisation is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, but it should play a part in negotiations. It is above all important—this is the point that King Hussein was pressing—that it should make plain its recognition of the importance of Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, and renounce violence.

§ Mr. Janner
In talking to the Syrian Foreign Minister, did the right hon. and learned Gentleman raise with him the murder of the mayor of Nablus, for which credit was claimed by two Syrian-backed terrorist organisations? If so, what response did he receive?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
I had already made plain—and I make plain again today—the serious view that we take of the tragic death of the mayor of Nablus, Mr. Zafer alMasri. That brutal murder of a moderate, courageous Palestinian must be seen as a setback to hopes of a just and lasting peace in the middle east. Of course we raised and discussed that matter with Mr. Shara and made plain our abhorrence of that act, which can only damage Palestinian interests. We urged him in that context, and more widely, to end Syrian support to terrorist groups. He made plain his Government's position of opposition to terrorism.

§ Dr. Blackburn
Will my right hon. and learned Friend kindly take note of the historic, forthcoming Israeli visit of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, who will be the first British Prime Minister in office to visit Israel? Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that the future key to peace in that part of the middle east lies in the full implementation and acceptance of the Camp David agreement?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
I am glad to welcome what my hon. Friend has said about the forthcoming visit of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to Israel, which I know will be welcomed there and supported in this country. I do not think that it would be helpful at this point for me to support this, that or the other of the many principled plans put forward for the solution of the main Arab-Israel problem. The problem is not to define or 303 redefine principles, but to find effective representation that will bring both sides together in meaningful negotiations to that end.

§ Mr. Donald Stewart
Is the Foreign Secretary aware that it is unrealistic to demand the renunciation of violence prior to any discussions with the PLO, because if they do that, there is not the slightest chance of getting the Israeli Government to pay any attention to the PLO's legitimate demands?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
The right hon. Gentleman is entitled to take that view if he wishes. It is certainly necessary to acknowledge that the renunciation of violence in the context of seeking an end to a dispute of this kind cannot be secured easily. It is necessary to go on pressing the case for violence to be renounced and for the parties to come together on the basis of agreed objectives and principles.

§ Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
In view of the Prime Minister's forthcoming visit to Israel, may I ask what arrangements will be made for her to be brought into contact with Palestinian viewpoints? What plans are there for her to visit the occupied territories? Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that many people regard it as most important that the visit should be seen to be balanced in its approach?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
Obviously I cannot comment at this stage on the precise details of the plans for my right hon. Friend's visit. I acknowledge, as does my right hon. Friend, the importance for our interest in the problems of the region to be balanced, not only in regard to the visit, but more widely. I remind my hon. Friend that it is only some six months since my right hon. Friend made a visit to Jordan and there saw another aspect of the same question.

§ Mr. Ernie Ross
Will the Foreign Secretary take the opportunity of the visit of the Prime Minister to Israel to encourage the Palestinians to believe that Britain wants to play a role by ensuring that the Prime Minister makes it clear that when the Foreign Secretary assumes the presidency of the European Council on 1 July, he will continue the long-standing arrangement, which we broke in 1980, of meeting the chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, Yasser Arafat?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
I think I am right in saying that since 1976 there has been contact at official level with the Palestine Liberation Organisation. As I have already made clear, we recognise that it will have to be associated with any peace negotiations. Of course, the Palestinians and their interests will have to be taken account of at each stage of all our consideration of the question. That will not be absent from the mind of my right hon. Friend when she goes to Israel.

§ Mr. Deakins
What views did the Syrian Foreign Minister express to the right hon. and learned Gentleman about the way forward in resolving the Palestinian problem? Did the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree with those views?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
I do not think that I am in a position to offer a long exposition of the views of the Syrian Foreign Minister. He gave a long talk yesterday at Chatham House about the matter. The point that I sought to impress upon him is the need on the Arab side to try to 304 secure the involvement of all those countries which in different ways and at different times have expressed an interest in a peaceful solution. That is why we have given encouragement, not merely to the initiative of King Hussein, but to a possible and constructive interest by Israel and have also noted the important initiative by President Mubarak the other day. All the initiatives have to come together and meet a corresponding disposition from the Israeli side. Our effort is to try to promote all those things.

§ Mr. Anderson
President Assad has recently again called for the tearing up of the Camp David accord and showed himself fundamentally opposed to the Hussein-Mubarak initiative. In view of that, and of the fact that it now seems certain that there will be a change of Prime Minister in Israel, does the Foreign Secretary realistically see any life left in the Hussein initiative? Does he not see the looming confrontation between Syria and Israel on the Golan as the major point of tension in the middle east?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
I am not seeking from the Dispatch Box to give the impression that all is, or is about to be, sweetness and light. Of course, the House acknowledges, as does King Hussein himself, that his determined efforts to carry forward the peace process with Arafat and the PLO have received a setback. But he remains determined to continue his search for a peaceful settlement. I accept the point made by the hon. Gentleman that some of the observations of President Assad in his recent speech about the need for confrontation and a continued arms struggle are not likely to help that peace process forward. There are plenty of hazards in sight. Without unduly raising expectations, it must be our task to continue to encourage all those who are trying genuinely to advance the peace process.

§ Mr. Beith
Did the Foreign Secretary find at his meeting with the Syrian Foreign Minister that the Syrians are keen to see British involvement in the peace process? Is that not a particularly useful context in which to stress again the need for Syria to play an active part in stamping out the terrorism which led to Mr. Zafer al-Masri's death, which was greeted with universal grief in the Palestinian community?

§ Sir Geoffrey Howe
It is absolutely right that we should take this opportunity of stressing to the Syrian Government and the Syrian Foreign Minister not just our abhorrence of that senseless murder but our opposition to terrorism of all kinds from whichever quarter it may come in the Arab-Israeli dispute. We took the opportunity of pressing that point very clearly. The hon. Gentleman, like everyone else concerned, stresses the British role in helping to promote a solution to this problem. I must continually remind people that although we have a real interest, and are willing to play as full a part as we can, it must be essentially for the parties involved in the region to take the crucial steps that are necessary to bring about a solution.