§ 2.59 p.m.
§ Lord Redesdaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to deploy peace monitors to the Middle East.
§ The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)My Lords, the Government believe that third-party monitoring, accepted by both parties, would serve the interests of Israel and the Palestinian Authority in their search for peace. A monitoring mechanism could support ceasefire implementation and Palestinian Authority action against the terrorists, as envisaged in the Tenet security work plan, and help the parties implement the Mitchell recommendations. We stand ready to help in any way we can.
§ Lord RedesdaleMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Does she not agree that any monitoring would have to be based on a peace plan that is acceptable to both sides, and that no peace plan could work under the present situation of occupation?
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanMy Lords, I agree that there would have to be an effective ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal from the towns on the West Bank and a real Palestinian effort on security issues, including the actions of suicide bombers. I am sure that no one in your Lordships' House underestimates the seriousness of the crisis in the area at present. Indeed, we are facing a potential catastrophe, but it means that there is an added incentive and duty placed upon all governments to work as hard as we can at present, both in concert with each other and with those on the ground to try to provide a way forward.
§ Baroness RawlingsMy Lords, we all agree that monitors can only observe; they cannot act to protect a country's citizens from terrorism. While supporting the US calls for Israel to withdraw its troops, how do the Government propose Israel should act to defend its citizens from terrorism? What alternative security mechanisms to prevent further terrorist attack does the Minister propose?
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanMy Lords, this is an enormously difficult question. If it were easy to answer, everyone would provide the solution. I am sure that we all wish Colin Powell the very best in his deliberations. He has today met with the quartet in Madrid; that is, also with the United Nations, the EU and the Russians. The main ingredients of future action have been put forward, which Her Majesty's Government strongly support, and which would mean a ceasefire. The noble Baroness rightly stresses the proper implementation of real measures for the security of the Israeli people who have yet again, this morning, suffered another ghastly outrage in Haifa.
§ Lord Patel of BlackburnMy Lords, I am sure noble Lords will agree that negotiated agreement and implementation of UN resolution after resolution 415 should have priority. The second step should be to deploy monitors to the Middle East and to rebuild the state of Palestine.
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanMy Lords, I agree, as do her Majesty's Government, with the comments of my noble friend. The priority must be the implementation of recent UN Security Council Resolutions 1397, 1402 and 1403. That means establishing a proper ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli troops and the implementation of the Tenet and Mitchell plans. These are enormously difficult issues being faced in the area at present. I am happy that many of our allies, people of good will, are now putting so much effort into attempting to find a solution. I am sure that all noble Lords wish Colin Powell well in his mission to the region.
§ Lord Wallace of SaltaireMy Lords, can the Minister tell the House the kind of international framework into which the Government envisage British troops would be hooked in taking part as peace monitors in the Middle East? Will that be a UN, NATO or E U exercise or some other international framework? In his speech the other day the Prime Minister referred to "the international community". We need a more precise definition.
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanMy Lords, the noble Lord made the assumption that this would involve military monitoring. Perhaps I may say that he is rather ahead of the game in that respect. A number of plans are under discussion. Papers are now being considered, both within the United Kingdom and with our allies, which are based on the concept of a civilian monitoring mission for a ceasefire. It is also important to point out that any such monitoring would not be of just a ceasefire but also of the important issues to which the noble Baroness, Lady Rawlings, referred in relation to security, and would involve Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian territory.
As I stressed in my initial Answer, it is important that any monitoring arrangement must be based on the agreement of Palestinian and Israeli authorities. To try to impose a monitoring arrangement simply would not work. In drawing up these type of plans and proposals, it is enormously important that proper consultation takes place. We are, indeed, at a delicate stage in such consultation.
§ Lord Clinton-DavisMy Lords, can my noble friend advise what specific action should be taken to stop the kind of attacks which she has today condemned? A number of Israelis have been killed and a number injured. Although I believe it is important that dialogue should take place, surely it cannot do so unless that kind of attack is condemned by her.
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanMy Lords, I condemn those attacks unequivocally and wholeheartedly. We must all acknowledge that the spiralling violence in the Middle East is in no way being stemmed by what the Israelis have done in an 416 attempt to stop the violence by going into the Palestinian areas, as the outrage this morning demonstrated all too clearly. For our part we welcome the peace initiative proposed by Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. In the speech made by the Prime Minister in Texas last weekend, he said that in parallel with a ceasefire, the principles set out by the Crown Prince should be incorporated into a further UN Security Council resolution as the way forward politically. It is important that we all recognise that it will be only a political, negotiated solution that will win through; violence simply will not.