§ 11. Claire WardTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine [98792]
§ Mr. StrawA settlement of the dispute between the Israelis and the Palestinians would, we believe, enhance global security, including the security of both the immediate region and the United Kingdom. This is why the Prime Minister has led the way, through political and practical support for the Quartet, in working for renewed negotiation towards the realisation through the roadmap towards President Bush's vision of a two state solution in 2005.
§ 20. Mr. BrazierTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States Government on establishing a Palestinian state; and if he will make a statement. [98802]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel is at the heart of President Bush's vision of a final settlement, as set out in his speech of 24 June 2002. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, FCO officials and I are in constant touch with US colleagues on how to realise 419W that vision. We agree with them that the Quartet and its road map provide the right mechanism, and have given both our full support.
§ 23. Martin LintonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will table a resolution under chapter VII of the United Nations charter to impose a duty on Israel to halt and withdraw illegal settlements in the occupied territories. [98805]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe have no plans to table a UN Resolution on Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. Security Council Resolutions 446 and 465 state that they are illegal. The Government have made it clear that an early settlement freeze is essential to the continuing viability of the two-state solution.
Our priority for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be the implementation of those Security Council Resolutions already passed; most recently, Resolution 1435, which calls for a complete cessation of violence, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian cities and action by the Palestinian Authority to bring those responsible for acts of terror to justice. The UK played a leading role in the adoption of this resolution. We remain committed to further Security Council action, wherever this will be useful.
§ Mr. BestTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's activities in seeking a Middle East peace settlement. [98414]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe fully support the efforts of the Quartet to restart a peace process leading via the Roadmap it agreed on 20 December to a realisation in 2005 of President Bush's vision of a two-state solution. That support is both political and practical. We convened the London meeting on Palestinian reform and nation-building in January; it was a British initiative during the hiatus in Quartet activity caused by the Israeli election campaign. From 18–20 February we hosted meetings of the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee and Task Force on Reform. We remain ready to do all we can to underpin and complement Quartet activity.
§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospects for a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.[98798]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI refer my hon. Friend to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave earlier in the House today to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire.