Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the light of the conviction in the Israeli courts of Mordecai Vanunu on charges of leaking secrets of the Israeli nuclear weapons production facility at Dimona, he will initiate a renewed evaluation of Israeli nuclear weapons capability.
§ Mr. MellorNo. Israel's ambiguous position will continue to give rise to suspicion until it signs the non-proliferation treaty and opens its nuclear facilities to international inspection.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, 31 March,Official Report, column 628, as corrected on 12 April, Official Report, column 34, on representations made to the Israeli Government to sign the non-proliferation treaty, what response was received in October 1987; and if any further communication took place as a result.
§ Mr. MellorThe permanent under-secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was told at the talks referred to by the hon. Member that the Israeli114W Government saw no prospect of Israeli signature of the non-proliferation treaty before the conclusion of a general peace settlement in the region. We have received a similar response, most recently in April, when we have raised the non-proliferation treaty with the Israeli Government.