§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has been in contact with any international human rights organisations in order to ascertain the current situation of the Palestinian population in the occupied territories during the period of restrictions on journalists' freedom of movement and reporting.
§ Mr. MellorWe maintain contacts with a number of bodies, including human rights organisations, who monitor developments in the occupied territories.
§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement about the Palestinian uprising in the Israeli occupied territories.
§ Mr. MellorUnacceptable actions by the Israeli military and settlers are exacerbating the violence in the West Bank and Gaza. The status quo, characterised by violence and repression, offers no way forward. We urge all concerned to join in the search for a political settlement.
§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he has made to the Israeli Government on the situation in the occupied territories; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorWe and our European partners regularly make clear to the Israeli authorities our concern at many aspects of the situation in the occupied territories.
§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government have made or intend to make any representations to the Israeli Government about the closure of Palestinian academic institutions on the West Bank and Gaza; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorYes. We have made regular representations to the Israelis about collective punishments, including the closure of educational institutions.
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§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government have made representations to the Israeli Government in respect of the difficulties Palestinian farmers have had in exporting agricultural produce to the European Community.
§ Mr. MellorYes. We have repeatedly stressed to the Israeli Government the importance that we attach to the full implementation of the EC's measures to allow Palestinians in the occupied territories to export direct to the EC, in accordance with the Israeli Government's undertaking of 7 December 1987. Most recently we were fully associated with the representations which the Presidency and Commission made on this subject to Mr. Peres on 31 March.
§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will make representations to the Israeli Government to allow the population of the occupied territories to hold free elections to choose their representatives at any future peace conference.
§ Mr. MellorElections in the occupied territories are foreseen in the current United States peace proposals, to which we hope Israel will respond constructively.