§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they concur with the opinion expressed by certain countries in the Middle East that the development of nuclear weapons by Israel affects their vital national interests and whether this empowers those countries, in international law, to take unilateral action against Israel.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyWe are concerned by reports that Israel has a nuclear weapons programme, but have no direct evidence that this is the case. We shall continue to encourage Israel to allay all suspicions by acceding to the nuclear nonproliferation treaty as a non-nuclear weapons state. A judgment of what might affect a country's vital national interests is solely a matter for the country concerned. What action might be open to the states in the region in any particular case would depend on the circumstances. Any such action would of course have to be in accordance with international law.