§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether an agreement has recently been signed "to formalise the strategic dialogue" between the Israeli and British Governments, to "open a high level channel of communications … to enhance ties … between the defence industries and intelligence services" and "to hold annual meetings at the level of directors-general of the Defence Ministries", as reported in Ha'aretz, on 28th November 1996; and 112WA Whether any new agreement indicates that the British Government is content with, and supports, Israel's failure to adhere to its international commitments under the Oslo agreements, its use of torture on prisoners, its settlement policies in the occupied territories and in Jerusalem, and its continuing occupation of parts of Lebanon.
§ Lord CheshamThe article referred to described the visit to Britain of Israeli Defence Minister Yitzhak Mordechai on 21st November. No such agreement was signed or discussed during his visit. Israel and the UK have a range of defence contacts appropriate to the relationship between two friendly countries.