HL Deb 24 June 1996 vol 573 cc45-6WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they consider that Israeli forces occupying South Lebanon need not withdraw from that country until the Syrian forces in the country at the invitation of the Lebanese Government also withdraw.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

We support the implementation of UN Security Resolution 425, which calls for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon. We also support Lebanon's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and would like to see a situation where there is no need for any foreign troops to be stationed in Lebanon: the withdrawal of all foreign forces was envisaged in the Taif agreement of 1989 that ended the civil war. We believe that the best hope for a durable settlement is through the Middle East Peace Process.