§ Mr. Dan Jonesasked the Lord Privy Seal, further to his reply to the question from the right hon. Member for 204W Brent, East (Mr. Freeson) on 15 April, Official Report, column 147, whether any of the statements of the Palestine Liberation Organisation since the announcement of the Venice declaration have suggested that that organisation is now prepared to recognise the State of Israel.
§ Mr. HurdWe know of no clear public PLO statements since June 1980 indicating that it is prepared to recognise Israel. Indeed, there have been statements to the contrary. However, in addition to the private statements referred to in that reply, there has been at least one public indication that the PLO may be willing to live in peace with Israel. Yasser Arafat was reported in January this year to have told a group of American university professors that he would accept "United Nations force and superpower guarantees" to act as a buffer between a Palestinian State and Israel. We shall continue to press the PLO to accept publicly Israel's right to exist.