HC Deb 17 November 1981 vol 13 cc114-5W
Mr. Latham

asked the Lord Privy Seal what are the minimum assurances and guarantees he considers would need to be given by any Palestinian State established on the West Bank of the Jordan to safeguard the security of Israel.

Mr. Hurd

Following the achievement of peace with Egypt, the best guarantee of Israel's security is the establishment of full peace through a negotiated comprehensive settlement with all its neighbours, including the Palestinians. Full acceptance of Israel's right to live in peace and security by all concerned will have to be part of such a settlement. The exact nature of assurances and guarantees of security from a Palestinian State, if one were established as a result of such a settlement, to Israel andvice versa must be a matter for negotiation between the parties concerned. The international community is likely to have a role to play in such assurances and guarantees.

Mr. Latham

asked the Lord Privy Seal in what respect he considers that the fears of Israel about the threat posed by the establishment of a Palestinian State on the West Bank and Gaza are exaggerated; and what is the basis for this view.

Mr. Hurd

A Palestinian State could be established on the West Bank and Gaza only as part of a comprehensive settlement which would involve the negotiation of lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, including assurances and guarantees considered necessary by either side in view of the geographical nature of the border between them. Moreover such a State would be small, beset by all the problems associated with the establishment of a new State, and economically dependent on outside aid for the forseeable future. The attitude of the Palestinians both inside and outside the West Bank and Gaza does not lead us to think it likely that such a State would be a threat to Israel's security.

Mr. Latham

asked the Lord Privy Seal what factors he considers will ensure that the Palestinian mini-State, which he favours, will not be expansionist or a base for Soviet influence; and what safeguards he envisages to ensure that this is so.

Mr. Hurd

I refer my hon. Friend to the other answers I have given. An important aspect of a negotiated peace settlement would be the mutual recognition of borders and rights to existence and security of all States in the region. This would naturally have to include Israel and any Palestinian State which might be set up. It is the present situation, in which the West Bank and Gaza under military occupation and in which many Palestinians have no political rights, which gives the Soviet Union great scope for expanding its influence in the Arab world.