HL Deb 20 March 1978 vol 389 cc1566-7

2.51 p.m.

Lord JANNER

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the involvement of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in the recent massacres of men, women and children in Israel, Her Majesty's Government will take steps to prevent the continuance in the United Kingdom of that organisation and the establishment of branches of other terrorist organisations here.

Lord PEART

My Lords, the PLO itself is a political, not a terrorist organisation. Neither Fatah which perpetrated the latest attack in Israel nor any other of the terrorist groups affiliated to the PLO has branches in this country. Her Majesty's Government would take appropriate action against anyone engaging in terrorism here.

Lord JANNER

My Lords, is my noble friend aware of the fact that the PLO stated immediately after this terrible massacre that it was going to encourage further actions of a similar nature and that, as long as we allow any representative of the PLO to remain in this country to encourage this kind of thought, it will be disastrous not only in respect of Israel but in respect of the terrorism that is being created throughout the world?

Lord PEART

My Lords, I accept what my noble friend has said. We condemn terrorism. That is the policy of the Government. We condemned the terrorist attack on 11th March. It is true that a PLO representative has worked from the Arab League Office since 1971, but we must remember that Said Hammami was a moderate who wanted an accommodation with Israel. We will condemn any terrorism.

Lord WIGG

My Lords, will the noble Lord the Leader of the House bear in mind that the terrorist of one generation is the great statesman of the next? If anyone doubts that, he could have a word with Prime Minister Begin, whose own terrorist record is just about as bad, or as good, as that of anyone else in the world.

Lord PEART

My Lords, I do not want to raise tension in this House on this matter. As noble Lords know, fighting continues in the Lebanon and I understand that Israeli forces control most of the area South of the Litani river; but Her Majesty's Government are deeply concerned at the loss of life there and we have played an active part in the United Nations in promoting the two resolutions which the Security Council has adopted and whose effect should be to halt the conflict. We hope that there can be peace.

The Earl of HALSBURY

My Lords, will the noble Lord the Leader of the House extend his anathema of terrorism to condemn explicitly not only Palestinian but Irish, Basque and Zimbabwean terrorism or any other kind of terrorism?

Lord PEART

My Lords, speaking on behalf of the Government, I do that. Terrorism of any kind is cowardly and disgraceful. I abhor it. We want peace.

Lord JANNER

My Lords, while I agree with my noble friend that terrorism is a terribly serious matter, is he aware of the fact that A1 Fatah is the main portion of the PLO and that the PLO is linked with other terrorist organisations? Will he make full inquiries into the activities of this particular organisation not only in regard to Israel but in regard to other terrorist organisations and see whether he is satisfied that representatives of that organisation are not wanted in a civilised country?

Lord PEART

My Lords, there is no PLO office, as such, in London. As I have said, it is true that a PLO representative worked with the Arab League; but he was a moderate man. I am saying that we condemn terrorism. I cannot go beyond that.