HL Deb 21 March 1997 vol 579 cc129-30WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

If it can be shown that the Government of Israel is in breach of its obligations of the 4th Geneva Convention and the Oslo Agreements, whether they will seek postponement, amendment or cancellation of the benefits to Israel of its trade agreement with the European Union.

Lord Chesham

The EU/Israel Association Agreement (and the EC/Israel Interim Agreement which is already in force) refer to neither the Oslo Agreements nor the 4th Geneva Convention. We continue to urge both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to honour the agreements between them, and we regard any breaches of international law such as the 4th Geneva Convention in a serious light. Suspension of the EU/Israel Association Agreement when it has entered into force would have to be decided collectively by EU member states.