Middle East

GCHQ – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 1 March 2005.

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Photo of Anthony Steen Anthony Steen Conservative, Totnes 11:30, 1 March 2005

When he last met the Israeli Foreign Minister to discuss the situation in the middle east; and if he will make a statement.

Photo of Jack Straw Jack Straw Foreign Secretary

I last met Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom during my visit to Israel on 24 November 2004. We continue to engage closely with the Israeli Government at all levels, including in preparation for today's London meeting on supporting the Palestinian Authority.

Photo of Anthony Steen Anthony Steen Conservative, Totnes

In order to show solidarity with the Palestinian Authority against the terrorist threat to their security, will the right hon. Gentleman use the London conference as an opportunity to add Hezbollah in its entirety to the UK list of terrorist organisations? Will he press the EU to do likewise, because the organisation is not on its list at all?

Photo of Jack Straw Jack Straw Foreign Secretary

As I said in answer to an earlier question, this is not an issue of intention, because it is all a matter of evidence. The Terrorism Act 2000, for which I had ministerial responsibility, laid down clear procedures for proscription. I might say, in recalling last night's interesting debate, that the House is quite right to impose specific obligations on Secretaries of State and to make provision for the judicial review of decisions in such circumstances. Such decisions cannot be taken capriciously or without evidence, even though people say to us, "We know that the whole of Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation." That is not enough in the British system, with a Government who are proud of introducing the Human Rights Act 1998, and who live by that Act every day of their existence.