Palestine

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean Excerpts

Thursday 3rd February 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Wallace of Saltaire]

My Lords, there are allegations and, indeed, proven occasions of brutality on both sides. I do not wish to go into that now but will re-emphasise where we are. Given the expansion of settlements, the achievement of an acceptable two-state solution is increasingly difficult. I noted that Ehud Barak, who is still in the Israeli Government, said nearly two years ago that the Israelis want three things—for Israel to be a Jewish state, to be a democracy and to include all the land between the Mediterranean and the River Jordan. The problem is that they have to choose which two of those three they can have, because all three are not possible.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean]

My Lords, I associate these Benches with everything that the Minister said in his opening Answer. Does he share the widespread dismay at the stagnation of the Middle East peace process? Does he also believe that the current state of turmoil in the Middle East—particularly in Egypt and, to a lesser extent, in Jordan—serves to undermine the peace process and causes intense worry throughout the region about the future of the peace process?

[Lord Wallace of Saltaire]

My Lords, the current turmoil across a number of middle eastern states clearly has serious implications for both the peace process and Israel’s future security. I reiterate that this Government, as were our predecessors, are strongly committed to the view that a secure Israel, associated with a secure Palestine, is the only answer to the current tensions.