§ Mr. HowardTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what developments there have been in discussions on the future status of land in the West Bank; and if he will make a statement. [50720]
§ Mr. FatchettDiscussions on the second Israeli redeployment continue between the parties and the US. We await an Israeli response to the latest US proposals. The talks have been made more difficult by the recent announcement of the Israeli Government, proposing an extension to the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem to include certain territory on the West Bank. We regard this development as serious and damaging to the prospects for peace in the middle east. We supported a UN Security Council Presidential Statement to this effect on 13 July 1998.