§ Mr. Lathamasked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government consider that the Israeli settlements in the areas occupied by Jordan, Syria and Egypt between 1948 and 1967 are in breach of article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Red Cross Convention of 1949 on the protection of civilians in time of war; and, if so, in what respect.
§ Mr. HurdFor the Government's view of Israeli settlements on the occupied West Bank I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 8 March.—[Vol. 19, c. 345–46.] We regard the establishment of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories and the consequent transfer of parts of the Israeli civilian population into these territories as a breach of article 49 of the Fourth Geneva convention of 1949, and inconsistent with Israel's status as an occupying power.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government consider that Israeli settlements in the areas occupied by Jordan, Syria and Egypt between 1948 and 1967 breach international conventions other than article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Red Cross Convention of 1949; and, if so, whether he will list them.
§ Mr. HurdIn addition to the convention referred to in the question, we consider that certain Israeli practices in the occupied territories, including the establishment of settlements, run counter to the Hague regulations of 1907 concerning laws and customs of war on land.