HL Deb 31 January 1995 vol 560 cc1332-4

3.1 p.m.

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What response was received from Israel to the declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the situation in the Palestinian territories, dated 5th January 1995.

Lord Inglewood

My Lords, the Government of Israel are aware of the European Union's concerns about the situation in the occupied territories, including the situation in relation to settlement building.

Lord Hylton

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. Is it not the case that the declaration demanded a total cessation of work on expanding settlements? Will the presidency of the European Union now inform Israel that further private house building in such places as Maale Adumin, Gush Etzion and Giz'at Ze'ev will provoke financial penalties on Israel's trade with Europe?

Lord Inglewood

My Lords, the building of settlements in the occupied territories is contrary to international law and is an obstacle in the way of peace. The matter of settlements is one that has been reserved under the declarations of principle of the Oslo Agreement of 1993 until issues relating to permanent status are determined. Nevertheless, the building of those settlements is in breach of international law and we believe that it is contrary to the spirit behind the declarations of principle.

The EU troika of Foreign Ministers will visit Israel next month and that matter will be brought very forcefully to the attention of the Israeli Government. Indeed, in the following month, the Prime Minister of this country is to visit Israel and he too will be bringing forward those matters.

Lord Wright of Richmond

My Lords, in view of the Minister's very welcome reaffirmation of the Government's view that the settlement policy of the Israeli Government is illegal and contrary to international law, will he join our European partners in trying to persuade the United States Administration to follow the precedent of their predecessors in also declaring illegal the Israeli settlement policy?

Lord Inglewood

My Lords, we are at one with our European partners in our attitude towards those settlements. We understand that that is the view of the United States Government. Obviously it is for them to take their own decisions on those matters.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, in view of the grievous situation now developing on the West Bank, will the noble Lord say anything about the trend of British arms exports to Israel since their resumption last summer? While one can understand that any equipment which would help the Israeli Government to detect suicide bombers in bus stations is a very good kind of export, what about the more lethal equipment which I presume that we are still sending to Israel?

Lord Inglewood

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for reiterating the degree of seriousness in connection with the state of relations in Israel. I am not in a position to give the noble Lord any detailed reply about arms exports other than to say that the normal criteria obviously apply in this case.

Lord Mayhew

My Lords, has it not been clear for many years now that peace in the region will never be possible while the Israelis continue to build settlements in occupied Arab territories? The noble Lord rightly says that the Government have protested often in line with the Security Council and the European Community. But why have they always opposed bringing pressure to bear on the Israeli Government, perhaps along the lines suggested by the noble Lord, Lord Hylton?

Lord Inglewood

My Lords, I do not think it is true to say that the Government are opposed to bringing pressure to bear on Israel. In the current circumstances, where matters are extremely sensitive, it is our priority and that of our European Union partners to see whether we can proceed with the current negotiations. That is the cardinal principle behind our policy at this time.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, has the European Union noted the watering down of the safeguards against torture in the process of interrogation of terrorist suspects which was announced by the Israeli Justice Minister on 13th November of last year? Have the Government noted also any response from the Israeli authorities to a human rights Middle East report which refers to the use of torture and ill-treatment by Israelis in their interrogation of Palestinians from the occupied territories? Will the European Union consider raising those matters at the Geneva meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission?

Lord Inglewood

My Lords, I am not in a position to answer the detail of the question posed by the noble Lord, Lord Avebury. But it is a matter which is at the forefront of our concerns; that proper human rights provisions should be observed by the Israelis.

Baroness Blackstone

My Lords, given that there is now a serious danger that the peace process will stall completely, will the Minister tell the House whether the Government intend to have any discussions with the United States Government to ask them to put pressure on the Israelis to go back to the table and to rethink their settlement policies?

Lord Inglewood

My Lords, as I hope I explained earlier, it is a matter of the greatest concern and importance to Her Majesty's Government that the peace process continues. The House may rest assured that we shall not spare any effort to try to ensure that that occurs.

Lord Haskel

My Lords, does the Minister not agree that in spite of the wave of terrorism which is taking place, it is important for both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Administration that the peace negotiations should continue?

Lord Inglewood

My Lords, I concur entirely with the noble Lord's remark.