HC Deb 08 March 1988 vol 129 cc126-7W
Mr. Latham

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the boundaries of Jerusalem which are currently recognised by Her Majesty's Government; and whether they include those previously unoccupied areas on which new housing estates have been built since 1967, and which have been incorporated under Israeli law within the Jerusalem municipality.

Mr. Mellor

The status of the whole Jerusalem area, as defined by United Nations General Assembly resolution 303 (IV) of 9 December 1949, remains to be determined. All Israeli settlements in the territories occupied since 1967 are illegal.

Mr. Latham

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has sought from the consul-general in Jerusalem about the refusal of Palestinian representatives to meet the United States Secretary of State on his recent visit; and if he will instruct the consul-general to urge those Palestinian representatives to convey their views on the peace process to Her Majesty's Government, for onward transmission to the Government of the United States of America.

Mr. Mellor

We have received full reports from all the appropriate posts about Mr. Shultz's recent visit to the middle east. We hope that a way can be found for the Palestinians to put their views direct to Mr. Shultz. Meanwhile, we will continue to do all we can to help the parties to the Arab/Israel dispute bridge the gap between their respective positions.

Mr. Latham

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list the specific claims to sovereignty over that area of the former British mandate in Palestine, now variously described as the West Bank or Judaea and Samaria, and currently under Israeli administration, which are(a) accepted and (b) noted by Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Mellor

Since 27 April 1950 we have recognised Jordanian sovereignty over the West Bank. No other Government have formally claimed sovereignty to this area, except those parts which Israel purports to have incorporated within the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem.

Mr. Latham

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the international boundaries on the Golan Heights which are currently recognised by Her Majesty's Government; and how they relate to those areas currently supervised by the United Nations under the 1974 disengagement agreements.

Mr. Mellor

The international boundary between Israel and Syria remains to be negotiated, but the armistice line established by the 1949 Syria-Israel armistice agreement has generally been accepted as the de facto boundary. The demilitarised zone, in which the United Nations disengagement observer force operates, lies well to the east of this line.

Mr. Latham

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list the specific claims to sovereignty over the Gaza strip which are(a) accepted and (b) noted by Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Mellor

No Government have made a specific, formal claim to sovereignty over the Gaza strip.