HC Deb 14 April 1993 vol 222 cc579-80W
Mr. David Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to assist the ending of the Arab trade boycott of Israel.

Mr. Douglas-Hogg

We consider the Arab boycott to be iniquitous and incompatible with the spirit of the peace process. Calls on the Arab League to lift the boycott were made at the 1991 London economic summit, at the Lisbon European Council of June 1992, and in a series of European Community demarches in September 1992. We shall continue to pursue this issue with Arab Governments.

Mr. Ronnie Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he has had with the Israeli Government on whether Israeli settlements in the west bank, Gaza strip, Golan heights and East Jerusalem are continuing; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Garel-Jones

Ministers have regularly discussed the settlement issue with the Israelis; most recently with the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and the Israeli Minister of Housing who were both in London last month. The Israeli Government instituted some curbs on settlement activity in the west bank and Gaza shortly after its formation last year. This was a welcome move, but fell short of the total ban on settlements in the occupied territories which we, and other members of the international community, had called for. It remains our view that all settlements in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, are illegal and an obstacle to peace.

Mr. Ronnie Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has recently received on changes in Israeli settlements in the west bank, Gaza strip, Golan heights and east Jerusalem; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Garel-Jones

The Israeli Government instituted some curbs on settlement activity in the west bank and Gaza shortly after its formation last year. This was a welcome move but fell short of the total ban on settlements in the occupied territories which we, and other members of the international community, had called for. Settlement activity continues in East Jerusalem. It remains our view that all settlements in the occupied territories, including east Jerusalem, are illegal and an obstacle to peace.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information Her Majesty's Government possess on the violation of the human rights of Palestinians in Israel in each month since January 1992.

Mr. Garel-Jones

We receive regular information from a variety of sources on the human rights of Palestinians in the occupied territories. The situation there remains a matter of great concern as my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg), made clear in a speech to the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva on 9 February.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Israel concerning the imprisonment of Mordechai Vanunu; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We have raised with the Israelis concerns over humanitarian aspects of this case. They have assured us that the conditions under which Mr. Vanunu is detained have now improved. We have no formal locus to intervene.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken within the nuclear non-proliferation treaty concerning Israeli nuclear capability; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

As Israel is not a party to the non-proliferation treaty, it is not subject to its provisions. We are, however, concerned by reports that Israel has a nuclear weapons programme, although we have no direct evidence to confirm that this is the case, and would like Israel to accede to the treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state as soon as possible.