§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list in specific numerical terms those sections of the Hague and Geneva conventions which Her Majesty's Government consider that Israel has infringed by establishing settlements in the former areas of the British mandate which were occupied either by Jordan or Egypt between 1948 and 1967, and which are currently occupied by Israel; and whether he will list in each case why he believes that particular section has been breached.
§ Mr. HurdWe regard the establishment of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories as contrary to article 49 of the fourth Geneva convention of 1949 by reason of the consequent transfer of parts of the Israeli civilian population into such occupied territory. The establishment of settlements also runs counter to article 55 of the Hague regulations of 1907, which limits the occupying state's powers over landed property to administration and usufructuary rights.