asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have a view on the possibility that the Palestinian general election, planned for 25 January, might be postponed.

My Lords, President Abbas has stated that the Palestinian legislative election will proceed on 25 January. The Israeli Cabinet will vote on the issue of elections in east Jerusalem on Sunday 15 January. We hope that its decision will remove any possibility of the election being delayed. We urge both the Palestinian and Israeli authorities to co-operate in the facilitation of these elections.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that encouraging reply. Will he make sure that the Israeli Cabinet does its best to allow east Jerusalem voters—Palestinian voters—to vote in these elections? It has already indicated provisionally that it would do so. It is crucial for them to take part in what is the effectively de facto renewed attempt to secure a full, sovereign Palestinian state. That is very important. Will he also have discussions with the Israeli authorities about easing the restrictions on free movement of Palestinian voters in Gaza and the rest of the West Bank?

My Lords, we are urging everyone to facilitate the elections in every way possible and to ensure—and this is important—that there is proper security and safety for those who will observe the elections. So far, acting Prime Minister Olmert has said that he will bring a comprehensive package to his Cabinet meeting. I do not doubt the difficulties of the discussions in that Cabinet given the security issues, but the signs so far are positive. We are urging that there should be a positive outcome.

My Lords, I have just returned from the Middle East where I met many leading Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Does my noble friend agree that there is every chance that the elections will go ahead with Palestinian and Israeli support? But does he not regard as the greatest danger the refusal of Hamas to remove from its charter its determination to destroy and remove the state of Israel?

My Lords, I agree with the proposition that it is vital that all parties throughout the region ensure that these elections and the Israeli elections that will follow shortly thereafter are a complete success. Our position on Hamas participation is clear. The Palestinians have a right to vote for whomsoever they want. We welcome the participation of a wide range of parties in all elections. But, ultimately, those who want to take part in the political process cannot engage in armed activity at the same time. We support the quartet's call on 28 December for all participants in this election to renounce violence, to recognise Israel's right to exist and to disarm. For its part, the United Kingdom will have no dealings with the leadership of Hamas, or any other organisation, unless it renounces violence and its charter commitment to the destruction of the state of Israel.

My Lords, I also have recently returned from Israel—in fact, last night—where I had discussions with many Israeli leaders and experienced journalists who know what is going on in the Palestinian area. They are of the view that Hamas will take a large percentage of the vote from Fatah. If it takes as much as 40 per cent, which has been suggested might happen, how does the Minister think that that will affect the democracy of the Palestinian state if it does not say that it will give up its desire to get rid of or to wipe out Israel?

My Lords, it would be dangerous in a parliament of another country to speculate on the likely outcome. The reality must be that the people of the area make their decisions and that we take a mature and responsible attitude to them. I hope that all parties in the Palestinian areas will not use any of the potential disruptions as an excuse for delaying these elections. It is very much in the interests of stability throughout the area that the elections take place on their scheduled date, and people will have to live with the results. As ever, that is the consequence of a democratic process. None the less—I repeat this and hope that I will be forgiven for doing so—we expect all parties to renounce violence and any charter demand for the end of the existence of the state of Israel.

My Lords, has my noble friend taken note of the fact that, for what I think is the first time, Hamas has not put into its literature for the election a call for the elimination of Israel? If that is right, does it not indicate that there is movement within Hamas and other groups of that nature which we need to encourage? Although Hamas still has a deeply worrying philosophy, this approach indicates some movement within the organisation.

My Lords, I can confirm that. I have been careful to refer only to the charter issues that were raised in the questions. There is also still talk of an armed struggle, a factor which has an impact. But it is true that no mention is made of the destruction of the state of Israel in the manifesto. That represents a significant change from all past literature in this regard.