HC Deb 12 April 1994 vol 241 cc15-6W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decisions were made at the Palestinian-Israeli talks in Cairo about the establishing of an international observer corps in the occupied territories; which nations will be represented; how large it will be; and how it will be armed.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Israel and the PLO have agreed to deploy in Hebron an international presence of 160 observers composed of personnel from Norway, Denmark and Italy. The observers will be lightly armed for self-defence, and will operate for an initial period of three months.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been arrested by the Israeli forces in the occupied territories since the Hebron massacre.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

No exact figures are available for the number of people arrested since the Hebron massacre. We have no evidence to suggest that the number of arrests has risen in this period.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, after the Cairo talks between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation, Britain has been asked for, or has offered, any assistance to support the peace process in the occupied territories.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We have not been asked to contribute observers for the temporary international presence in Hebron agreed upon in Cairo by Israel and the PLO. We remain ready, together with our EU partners, to contribute to an international presence in the rest of the occupied territories if requested to by the parties.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific pressue he is putting on(a) the Israeli Government and (b) the PLO in respect of the peace process in the occupied territories.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We and our EU partners have urged on both sides the necessity of a speedy conclusion of the negotiations on Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and Jericho, most recently in statements condemning the attacks in Afula and Ashdod on 6 and 7 April.