HC Deb 05 July 1995 vol 263 cc379-80
18. Mr. Cyril D. Townsend

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the middle east peace process. [30912]

Mr. Douglas Hogg

This is probably the last Foreign Office question that I shall have the privilege of answering in the presence of my right hon. Friend the present Foreign Secretary, with whom I have had the privilege of working for seven years at both the Home Office and the Foreign Office. It has been a great privilege and I much regret that my right hon. Friend will no longer be representing Britain's interests abroad. I know that that is the view of my ministerial colleagues, too, and I believe it to be the view also of the service that my right hon. Friend has led with such distinction for so long.

In answer to the main question, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall).

Mr. Townsend

First, I acknowledge the rapid rapport that my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary have been able to strike up with Arab leaders during their time at the Foreign Office. Does my right hon. and learned Friend recall, however, that the basis of the middle east peace process was supposed to be land for peace? Does he agree that dividing the west bank into zones A, B and C is hardly likely to help the peace process? Is it not time that he told the Israeli Government, in his last few moments, perhaps, that this is a good moment to withdraw altogether from the occupied territory?

Mr. Hogg

I think that on these occasions one should not be more royalist than the King. I also believe that we need strongly to support the negotiations that are afoot. I hope that it will be possible for the Israelis and Palestinians to meet their newest deadline of 25 July for a conclusion to the present negotiations.

Mr. Janner

May I take the same opportunity to thank the Foreign Secretary for many courtesies over many years? He has been a friend and sparring partner for nearly a lifetime. If we have to have a Tory Foreign Secretary, I am sorry that the right hon. Gentleman is leaving his post.

At the same time, I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am sure that he will have the support of almost all Opposition Members for the Government's efforts to make constructive approaches to both sides to help the peace process forward rather than trying to find ways to destroy good will.

Mr. Hogg

I am grateful to the hon. and learned Gentleman. I am glad that this Question Time has ended on such a harmonious note.

Mr. Tredinnick

I, too, wish my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary well and I thank him for his support of the British Atlantic Group of Young Politicians and the Future of Europe Trust over the past five years.

Can my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister confirm that the Israelis are now dealing with Mr. Arafat, which is a remarkable achievement? It must be made clear to the Israelis that they will never have peace unless they give up a good many of their settlements in the area known as Palestine.

Mr. Hogg

It is clearly a good thing that the Israeli Government are dealing directly with Mr. Arafat and have been doing so for many months. That is a tribute to Mr. Arafat for his courage and to Prime Minister Rabin for his.