HL Deb 23 February 1982 vol 427 cc829-30
Lord Molloy

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 they will make a statement on the peace negotiations in the Middle East.

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, in recent weeks attention has concentrated on the continuing efforts of certain Arab Governments to agree on a common negotiating stance and on the forthcoming Israeli withdrawal from Sinai in accordance with the Egypt-Israeli peace treaty. We believe that steps towards a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East must include both recognition of the Palestinian right to self-determination and recognition of Israel's right to live in peace. We and our European partners remain actively involved in the search for progress to this end, on the basis of the Venice Declaration.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that the threats to the state of Israel, which at one time seemed real, have never really materialised, but that on the contrary thousands of ordinary people have paid with their lives for aggression by the state of Israel, which many of the inhabitants of that country deeply regret; and that within that nation there are people who believe that the activities of its present Government in the annexation of the Golan Heights make no contribution to peace in that area?

May I ask the noble Lord whether this country could take the initiative to bring together all the forces and all the people concerned in that area, including the PLO, the Israelis and everyone else in the United Nations, to make a contribution so that we can secure peace and not allow this issue to drag on so that children yet unborn will be slaying each other? Would the noble Lord accept that as a proposition which, if made reality, could bring peace to that area?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I think that to suggest that a conference now on the lines suggested by the noble Lord would make real or early progress is perhaps to underestimate the complexity of the situation in the Middle East. Such a conference, if it ever came about, would have to be very well prepared and would need a substantial shift in the position of a number of would-be participants before it stood a chance of success.

As for the Israeli fears about their security, some of the Israeli fears in the past I think have been well-founded. For example, it was certainly the case that their territory was shelled from time to time from various points around their borders, so that I do not think that it would be right to underestimate the anxieties that they have about their security, which anxieties certainly have to be allayed in any comprehensive settlement.

Lord Paget of Northampton

My Lords, has the noble Lord seen the article in The Times today, to the effect that the result of the somewhat questionable dealings of the Foreign Secretary with Mr. Arafat has been a statement by Mr. Arafat flatly turning down any suggestion of a cease-fire in Southern Lebanon, or even a temporary cease-fire, suspending what he claims to be his right to send assassination squads into Israel? In those circumstances, have Her Majesty's Government any objections to the Israelis going into Southern Lebanon to deal with those assassins before they, themselves, are assassinated?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I would not deny that the position in and around Southern Lebanon is one that causes some anxiety, but I would hope that all the potential participants in any unfortunate affair which may take place in that part of the world will exercise the greatest discretion in the present circumstances. I have not seen the article in The Times to which the noble Lord referred. The noble Lord will know that Ministers usually do not get the chance to read the newspapers until the evening. Be that as it may, I must say that there have been no questionable dealings (to use the noble Lord's words) between my noble friend and Mr. Arafat.

Lord Paget of Northampton

My Lords, I apologise. It was yesterday's The Times. Can there be any dealings between a British Foreign Secretary and a chief of assassins which is not questionable?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, as I have often said in your Lordships' House, it is a mistake to imagine that any worthwhile progress in the Middle East can be achieved without taking into account the views of the Palestinian people. I would not suggest that the PLO are the sole representatives of the Palestinian people, because they are not; but they do represent an important segment of Palestinian opinion.