§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has discussed with his Israeli counterpart, or any Israeli official, the issue of nuclear or chemical weapon proliferation in the middle east; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveNo, but my right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised the question of Israeli accession to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty during his talks with Professor Arens on 15 February 1989.
§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the United Nations and other international bodies on the Israeli treatment of the Palestinians.
§ Mr. WaldegraveWe are in touch with interested UN agencies and other international organisations about Israel's treatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories, which unfortunately often falls below the expected standard. We take every opportunity to remind the Israeli authorities of their obligation to administer the occupied territories in accordance with their obligations under international law.
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§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, through the British consulate in east Jerusalem, Her Majesty's Government are monitoring Israeli use of west bank water resources, in respect of possible contraventions of the 1949 Geneva convention on the responsibilities of occupiers.
§ Mr. WaldegraveWe take a close interest in all aspects of the Israeli administration of the occupied territories and take every opportunity to remind the Israeli authorities of their obligations to respect international law. My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs mentioned the question of discriminatory allocation of water resources to the Foreign Minister of Israel when they met in New York in September last.
§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the middle east peace process and on the relations between the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. WaldegraveOur aim is to encourage a dialogue between Israel and representative Palestinians as a first step towards a comprehensive settlement of the Arab/Israel dispute. We look to the next Israeli Government to pursue such a dialogue with vigour and speed. We use our frequent contacts with the PLO to urge it to maintain its welcome commitment to a peaceful, negotiated settlement.
§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government are monitoring Israeli use of the natural resources of the west bank and Gaza strip.
§ Mr. WaldegraveWe take a close interest in all aspects of the Israeli administration of the occupied territories, including the use of natural resources, and take every opportunity to remind the Israeli authorities of their obligation to respect international law.
§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States and the European Community on violations of the 1949 Geneva convention in the occupied territories on the west bank and the Gaza strip; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveWe are in frequent contact with the United States and our EC partners about Israel's administration of the occupied territories. We take every opportunity to remind the Israeli authorities of their obligations under international law.