HL Deb 24 March 1980 vol 407 cc599-600WA
Lord CHELWOOD

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the European Community has now agreed that Security Council Resolution 242 of 1967 must be amended to state unequivocally the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination; and whether the wording of this Resolution in all translations makes it clear that Israel must evacuate all Arab territory that was not occupied be fore the 1967 war; and what action is now proposed.

The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (Lord Carrington)

The question of a new Security Council resolution is still being discussed by the Nine. There is widespread agreement that at some stage it may be desirable for Resolution 242 to be supplemented with a reference to the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. The English version of Resolution 242 only allows for the possibility of negotiation of minor territorial adjustments to the pre-1967 ceasefire lines, which are in some cases illogical and arbitrary. We continue to press all sides to accept a solution based on Resolution 242.