§ 21. Mr. Cunliffeasked the Lord Privy Seal if the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will take the opportunity of his visit to Israel to restate that Her Majesty's Government will have no contact with the Palestine Liberation Organisation until it repudiates the unacceptable clauses of the Palestine national covenant.
§ Mr. HurdWe have, on many occasions, made our policy on contacts with the Palestine Liberation Organisation quite clear. British Ministers are prepared to meet representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organisation only if such a meeting would be likely to contribute towards the cause of peace. A positive indication that, in the context of an overall peace settlement, the Palestine Liberation Organisation would be prepared to recognise Israel's right to live in peace and security is the sort of step that we would like the Palestine Liberation Organisation to take. In our contacts with the Palestine Liberation Organisation at official level we are constantly urging it to take this step and thus demonstrate its willingness to accept a negotiated settlement with Israel.