Palestine

Debate between Lord Wallace of Saltaire and Lord Janner of Braunstone

Thursday 3rd February 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Wallace of Saltaire]

My Lords, that was also a large number of questions. As the noble Lord will understand, it is not the policy of Her Majesty’s Government to comment on leaked documents. The status of the Palestinian papers is still not entirely clear. It remains the settled policy of this Government, as it was of previous British Governments, that a two-state solution of a viable Palestinian state with secure boundaries is the only way to secure a peaceful solution between the two sides.

On the question of the Palestinian General Delegation in London, we are aware of the steps that some other EU member states have taken to upgrade its status in their capitals to diplomatic missions. The same request has been made to the UK, which we are considering in accordance with our long support for Palestinian stakeholding. No decision has yet been taken.

[Lord Janner of Braunstone]

My Lords, the entire House would wish to see created a Palestinian state living alongside a secure Israel. However, does the Minister agree that any recognition of such a state must accept previous agreements which call for a negotiated settlement? Does he further agree that the unilateral delegations and declarations such as we have witnessed recently from Latin America serve no purpose in advancing the required and vital peace process?

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: My Lords, none of us should underestimate the seriousness of the current situation in terms of the future of the Middle East peace process. I read in an Israeli newspaper some weeks ago a statement that we have to understand that if the peace process collapses, the war process will start. That is the danger we are now in and it requires active and rapid movement from both sides.

Israel and Palestine: Deportations

Debate between Lord Wallace of Saltaire and Lord Janner of Braunstone

Thursday 4th November 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Wallace of Saltaire]

My Lords, the noble Lord raises the question of universal jurisdiction, on which the Government will bring forward proposals early in the new year. This is not simply a matter that relates to Israel. Members will remember occasions when attempts were made to secure private arrest warrants against Henry Kissinger and the Chinese Trade Minister. On the number of people in Israeli jails, when we are attempting to build agreement for a two-state solution it does not help to have elected representatives of the Palestinian Authority in Israeli jails.

[Lord Janner of Braunstone]

Does the noble Lord acknowledge that both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority have serious and legitimate security concerns over the presence of Hamas leaders in east Jerusalem?

[Lord Wallace of Saltaire]

My Lords, we recognise that both sides have a range of legitimate security concerns. We also recognise that Hamas is a problem. On the other hand—I know that the noble Lord has said on occasions that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East—these were elected representatives of the Palestinian Authority. If we wish to encourage the growth of two democratic states alongside each other, sometimes we may have to accept elected representatives who are not exactly the sort of people we would like.