Middle East (Hansard, 13 June 1990)

§ 21. Mr. Kennedy
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current initiatives to secure the release of United Kingdom hostages in Beirut.

§ 40. Mr. Home Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has been taking to gain the release of the British hostages currently held in Beirut; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
The release of two American hostages in April shows that Iran and Syria can, if they wish, secure the release of hostages in Lebanon. We are persevering with our efforts to persuade them that the holding of hostages is in no one's interest.

§ 39. Mr. Hind
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the measures he is taking to advance the peace process in the middle east and the release of British hostages held in the Lebanon.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
The recent visit of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the middle east has convinced us more than ever of the urgent need for direct dialogue between Palestinians and Israel. I can see no other starting point for a genuine peace process. We shall continue to work for this with our friends in the region and elsewhere. The grim alternative to dialogue is extremism and more killing.
The release of two American hostages in April shows that Iran and Syria can, if they wish, secure the release of hostages in Lebanon. We are persevering with our efforts to persuade them that the holding of hostages is in no one's interest.

§ 41. Mr. Robert Hicks
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any further proposals for a peace settlement in the middle east; and if he will make a statement.

§ 49. Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's contribution to finding a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict acceptable to the international community.
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§ Mr. Waldegrave
The recent visit of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the middle east has convinced us more than ever of the urgent need for direct dialogue between Palestinians and Israel. I can see no other starting point for a genuine peace process. We shall continue to work for this with our friends in the region and elsewhere. The grim alternative to dialogue is extremism arid more

§ 44. Ms. Primarolo
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to visit Israel to discuss the middle east peace process.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs would hope to do so at some stage but has no firm plans at present. However, the Israeli Government are well aware of our views on the urgent need for direct dialogue with representative Palestinians.

§ 45. Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Israeli Government about the occupation of the west bank and Gaza strip.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
The Israelis are well aware of our view that they should withdraw from territories occupied in 1967 in the context of a comprehensive settlement of the Arab/Israel dispute; and that pending withdrawal they should administer the occupied territories in accordance with their obligations under international law.

§ 49. Mr. Adley
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government about the continuing murders in the occupied territories; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
The Israeli Government are well aware of our deep concern about the continuing violence in the occupied territories and the numbers of Palestinians killed and wounded. We continue to take every opportunity to urge the Israeli authorities to administer the occupied territories in accordance with international law.

§ 55. Mrs. Dunwoody
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Iraqi authorities regarding President Sadam Hussein's statement concerning Israel on 10 May at a meeting with Yasser Arafat.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
We are not aware of the statement to which the hon. Member refers. According to our information, President Saddam Hussein did not meet Mr. Arafat on 10 May.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he authorised British Airways officials on flight 657 from Tel Aviv to London on 23 May 1990 to detain the passport of Mr. John Richardson.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
No.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have been excluded from Israel for each year since 1985, giving the figures since December 1987 by month.
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§ Mr. Waldegrave
No records of this kind of information are available to us.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British embassy was involved in the exclusion of Mr. John Richardson from Tel Aviv airport on 23 May; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
No.