§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the state of Israel concerning the effects of the Arab boycott on relations between the United Kingdom and Israel; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. WaldegraveIsraeli Ministers have not raised this issue since 1986. It is a matter of record that we deplore the boycott.
§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Israeli ambassador; what matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy right hon. and learned Friend hosted a farewell lunch for the ambassador and his wife on 7 October. It was a friendly occasion and we now look forward to welcoming his successor.
§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last visited Israel; what matters were discussed at the official level; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State last visited Israel from 28–30 October 1984. There have of course been numerous high level bilateral contacts since then, most recently my right hon. and learned Friend meeting the Israeli Foreign Minister on 26 September.
§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit Israel; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans at present.
§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has on the number of British citizens who visited Israel in 1987; and in each of last six years.
§ Mr. WaldegraveIsraeli sources give the following approximate figures for United Kingdom tourists only:
Numbers 1980 141,000 1981 150,000 1982 127,000 1983 122,500 1984 132,000 1985 162,000 1986 160,000 1987 185,580