§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Quartet engaged in the Middle East peace process has accepted the Taba proposals of January 2001 as a starting point, if not, which members of the Quartet rejected them; and on what grounds. [HL640]
140WA
§ Baroness AmosWe believe that the international community broadly shares our view that ideas discussed in Camp David and Taba provide a valuable framework for handling some of the issues which divide the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. The Quartet is working on a roadmap leading to a final settlement within three years, implementing the vision expressed by President Bush in June 2002. The Israeli occupation that began in 1967 will be ended through a settlement negotiated between the parties and based on UN resolutions 242 and 338, with Israeli withdrawal to secure and recognised borders and the creation of a viable Palestinian state.
§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Taba proposals gave the Israeli government control of main roads and strategic communications in the West Bank and Gaza; and whether such control would deny the principle of the sustainability of a Palestinian state. [HL641]
§ Baroness AmosThere is much speculation about the positions of the parties at Taba but no official written record exists of what was discussed.
As my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary said in another place on 16 April 2002 (Official Report col. 470), a final settlement must be based on "two viable, secure and territorially sovereign and democratic states, Israel and Palestine", mutually recognised and committed to peaceful co-existence with in agreed borders. Palestine should have the usual characteristics of statehood, the necessary institutions and rights, including responsibility for its internal security and the freedom to conclude treaties, of internal movement of goods, services and people, and of economic policy.