West Bank Universities (Hansard, 8 November 1989)

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Brabazon of Tara)
My Lords, the European Community and its member states continue to press the Israeli authorities to ensure the normal functioning of West Bank universities.

§ Lord Hylton
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Will the Government convey to the Israeli authorities that the reopening of these universities would be a useful step in building up confidence in the context of the approaching negotiations?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, a statement by the EC Council was made as recently as 6th October following which representations were made to the Israeli authorities by the EC troika on 11th October. The statement broadly deplored the renewed closure of the schools and wished the universities to be reopened. It stated that this would be a major factor in establishing the climate of confidence that is indispensable to the development of the peace process.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the closure of the five universities and colleges on the West Bank with its effect on over 18,000 students is an extremely serious matter? Can he be more specific and say, first, whether representations have been made about this matter by Her Majesty's Government to the Israeli Government and, secondly, whether we have approached the United States Administration to see whether they would combine with us in making representations?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, as I have said, our most recent representation was through the EC Council in which we play a full part. We made our position on this matter very clear. Naturally we are in touch also with the United States on these matters. We believe that we have a part to play in fostering the peace process. I shall of course take note of the noble Lord's remarks in regard to raising that particular issue with the United States.

§ Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone
My Lords, does my noble friend know whether the Israeli authorities have given any reason for the continued closure of the universities? If so, what is that reason?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords the general reason is alleged security concerns. However, we do not accept that that is a justification for this measure.

§ Lord Mayhew
My Lords, does the Minister agree that quite apart from the universities, apparently the schools will be closed again? Is he aware that the Community has protested many times in the strongest terms not only against the closures but also against the killing and wounding of many thousands of Palestinian children by shooting and beating? Does he think that it would be appropriate for the Community, perhaps next month at the summit, to consider suspending the economic privileges that it gives to Israel while these outrages continue?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, so far as concerns the closure of the schools, they have been progressively reopened since 22nd July. However, they remain subject to frequent disruption by curfews and short-term closure orders. So the situation there, as the noble Lord says, is not very satisfactory. So far as concerns sanctions against Israel, we do not believe that economic sanctions are a solution to the problems of the Middle East.

§ Lord Bottomley
My Lords, has the Minister read the report prepared by Professor Adam Roberts of Oxford University which stated that the Israeli authorities face a genuine cause of difficulty and trouble because of the torment in the universities?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I am afraid that I have not read the report to which the noble Lord refers. I shall see if I can find it and have a look at it. However, we still do not believe that the closure of the schools can be justified by security anxieties. We shall continue to speak up against this denial of basic human rights.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, does the Minister agree that all these problems in Israel will continue until there is an international conference to examine the exact situation and until the recommendations of such a conference become binding? Does he further agree that until that happens there will be no peace either for Arab or Israeli in that lamentable land?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, our policy and that of our European friends is based on two fundamental principles: first, the right of all states in the region, including Israel, to live in security; secondly, self-determination for the Palestinian people. We believe that an international conference remains the most appropriate forum for direct negotiations between all the parties concerned.

§ Lord Hatch of Lusby
My Lords, the Minister said that the British Government and the EC have made representations to Israel. Can he tell the House whether there has been any response to those representations, and whether the Israelis have taken any action concerning the universities as a result of those representations?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I cannot say that I have heard of any response from the Israeli 707 Government. Certainly the universities have not been reopened. But as I said in reply to an earlier question, some of the schools had been reopened before the most recent representations were made. Unfortunately, even now the schools are subject to disruption and short term closures.

Viscount Tonypandy
My Lords, does the Minister agree that it is much easier in the quiet of this Chamber to give advice to the Israelis on how to deal with what is a very difficult situation, and that there ought to be a little more sympathy for those who are trying to bring law and order into that part of the world?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, the noble Viscount is quite right. It is easy enough to hear views from this Chamber about what should or should not be done in this matter. In a way that shows how very difficult a problem this is to resolve.

§ Lord Hylton
My Lords, until such time as we have international agreement, is it not in Israel's own interest to enable those who are the leaders of the rising generation to return to their studies?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, yes. The EC statement made clear that we believe that the normal functioning of the schools and universities would be a major factor in establishing the climate of confidence that is indispensable for the development of the peace process.