Lebanon Conflict (Hansard, 9 October 1989)

§ The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Trefgarne)
My Lords, we continue to support the convening of an international conference as a suitable framework for direct negotiations between the parties to the Arab/Israel dispute, including the PLO. We also fully support the efforts of the Arab League to bring peace to Lebanon.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. I am sure he must now be aware that this issue is dividing Israel itself, and that cannot be good for either Israelis or Palestinians. Is the Minister prepared to make a statement that he supports the endeavours of the Egyptian President, President Mubarak who only yesterday made some very realistic propositions which have been turned down by the Israeli Government, although supported by the Israeli opposition and many young people in Israel? As regards the Lebanon, is the Minister prepared to say that it is awful that for 14 years there has been a terrible civil war in that country? The recommendations made only yesterday by Prince Saud Al-Faisal in the city of Taif were apparently opposed only by Syria. Should not the British Government make a statement that they support the prince in his endeavours?

§ Lord Trefgarne
My Lords, we certainly support the efforts of the Egyptians to clarify the Israeli proposals with regard to elections in the occupied territories. We hope that Israel will respond constructively to what the Egyptians have suggested. I of course agree that the situation in the Lebanon has been terrible for a very long time. That is why we warmly endorse the ceasefire which happily appears to be holding in the city of Beirut, and why we also very much hope that the meeting of the Lebanese parliamentarians in Saudi Arabia, to which the noble Lord referred, will bear some fruit.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, will Her Majesty's Government consider the possibility of seeking the co-operation of the United States administration, which is deeply concerned about the continuing position in the area, to make an approach to the Israeli Government to encourage them to co-operate with the initiative of President Mubarak?

§ Lord Trefgarne
My Lords, we certainly hope that all reasonable pressure will be brought to bear upon the Israelis to meet the spirit of the Egyptian proposals, which are, as I say, to flesh out the proposals which the Israelis themselves have made with regard to elections in the occupied territories. It is well known that the United States has considerable influence with the Israelis. However, I suspect that that is not total influence. The Israelis have often been hard to persuade, even by the United States.

§ Lord Bottomley
My Lords, in giving support to my noble friend Lord Molloy in calling for an international conference to bring about peace in the Middle East, does the Minister agree that if the Syrians and the PLO stopped interfering in the affairs of Lebanon, there would be more likelihood of success?

§ Lord Trefgarne
My Lords, the affairs of Lebanon are certainly bedevilled by an intervention from the Syrians, but also by an intervention from the Israelis. We believe that all foreign troops should leave Lebanon and we hope that that will happen soon. We very much support the committee of three, as it is called, which seeks to solve the problems of that unhappy country. We hope that those efforts will bear fruit.

§ Lord Mayhew
My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that, while warmly supporting the appeal of the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn, unfortunately it seems that the Israelis will stall the Mubarak initiative? In that case, will the Government consider very carefully the proposal—bearing in mind the encouraging precedent of Namibia—that the Secretary General of the United Nations might go to Palestine and make recommendations about an election?

§ Lord Trefgarne
My Lords, I think it is important to realise that the situations in Namibia on the one hand and in Israel and Lebanon on the other are very different. There was and is a United Nations plan for resolving the problems of Namibia which is now being implemented with the support of all those concerned. No such plan exists for Lebanon, but nonetheless any sensible proposals, from wherever they come, will be warmly endorsed.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, are the Government prepared to examine what I believe is a very remarkable and helpful statement by the Saudi Foreign Secretary? The statement is very much in line with what the Minister has been saying. I believe it is essential that the Government should examine in detail what has been uttered by the Saudi Foreign Secretary so that they may express support for him too.

§ Lord Trefgarne
My Lords, the Saudi Foreign Secretary is one of the committee of three to whom I referred. We hope very much that the efforts of that committee will bear fruit. They include the head of Morocco and the President of Algeria. We hope that the result will be a solution to this unhappy problem.