Israel (Hansard, 19 January 1995)

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Israeli Government on the effect on the peace process of expansion of Israeli settlements in areas that are the subject of negotiation with the Palestinian national authority.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
We consider that all settlements in the occupied territories, including east Jerusalem, are illegal and an obstacle to peace. With our EU partners, we are in frequent contact with the Israeli Government, whom we regularly remind of their obligations under the fourth Geneva convention. The EU issued a statement on 5 January which called for the total cessation of work on settlements.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made in releasing Palestinian prisoners held by the Israelis.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
When Peres and Arafat met in Gaza on 9 January, they agreed to establish a joint committee and an Israeli ministerial panel to consider further prisoner releases. We have repeatedly called on the Israelis to speed up prisoner releases as a confidence-building measure.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs whether, under the terms of the Oslo agreement, the election of a Palestinian self-governing authority depends upon the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
Article XIII of the declaration of principles on redeployment of Israeli forces states:
1. After the entry into force of the Declaration of Principles, and not later than the eve of elections for the Council (Palestinian Interim Self-Government authority), a redeployment of Israeli military forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip will take place, in addition to the withdrawal of Israeli forces (from the Gaza Strip and Jericho Area).

2. In redeploying its military forces, Israel will be guided by the principle that its military forces should be redeployed outside populated areas.
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3. Further redeployments to specified locations will be gradually implemented commensurate with the assumption of responsibility for public order and internal security by the Palestinian police force pursuant to Article VIII above (on Public Order and Security).

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government about the desirability of holding early elections.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
We have continually urged on both the Israelis and the Palestinians the importance of maintaining momentum in their negotiations over elections and the related question of redeployment in the west bank. Early elections would contribute to genuine peace in the region.