§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek, through the European initiative, to minimise Israeli settlements on the West Bank with the objective of preventing problems similar to those in Sinai when an eventual settlement is reached.
§ Mr. HurdThe Israeli Government are well aware of our strong views on the need for them to halt the expansion of their settlements in the occupied territories. As the Venice declaration makes clear, we and our partners in the Ten regard these settlements as a serious obstacle to the peace process, and illegal under international law.