Israel: Illegal Settlers

Lord Lea of Crondall Excerpts

Thursday 14th October 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Pannick]

My Lords—

[Lord Lea of Crondall]

My Lords—

[Baroness Miller of Hendon]

Does any assessment made by the Government take into account the fact that these settlements provide a haven from which Hezbollah and Hamas cannot continually throw bombs and things across into Israel, as has happened since Israel gave up control in Gaza?

[Lord Howell of Guildford]

There are security dangers in all these developments. Obviously, attacks on Israel from Hezbollah and from rocketing from Hamas in Gaza are matters that make it more difficult for the negotiations to go ahead. These two are deplorable developments and they must cease if we are to make progress.

[Lord Lea of Crondall]

My Lords—

[Lord Phillips of Sudbury]

My Lords—

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Strathclyde)]

My Lords, if both noble Lords are quick, I am sure that my noble friend will be able to give an answer—first, the noble Lord, Lord Lea, and then the noble Lord, Lord Pannick.

[Lord Lea of Crondall]

Does the Minister agree with the point being put to our friends in the Israeli Government that public opinion in this country and much of western Europe is influenced by the fact that there were two sides to the Balfour declaration? One is creating a homeland for the Jewish people and the other is observing the rights of the Palestinian people.

[Lord Howell of Guildford]

My noble friend is urging short answers, so the answer is yes, of course there are two sides.