§ Mr. Lathamasked the Lord Privy Seal whether, as it is the stated policy of Her Majesty's Government that Israeli settlements in Judaea and Samaria are illegal, he will indicate which country or countries Her Majesty's Government regards as being the legal owners of Judaea and Samaria from 1948 to the present; and which country or countries other than Israel currently lay territorial claims to Judaea and Samaria.
§ Mr. HurdIn the Government's view, Israeli settlements in the territories which historically formed part of Judaea and Samaria are illegal by virtue of the fact that their establishment is inconsistent with Israel's status as an occupying power and is contrary to certain provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a party.
The Government recognised Jordanian sovereignty over these territories in 1950. Jordan has made clear that she maintains her claim to sovereignty over the West Bank until such time as the Palestinians are able to decide its future for themselves.